Prompt: In the late sixteenth and throughout the seventeenth centuries, English theater culture differed significantly from the theater cultures of France and Italy. Identify at least two different ways in which English theater culture differed from French and Italian theater. Give at least one reason for these differences.

Weirdly enough, before attending this Theater Appreciation class, I had never heard of anything relating to the culture of French or Italian theater. In fact, I was completely puzzled when I heard that there actually was theater culture in France and Italy, being educated from a school that mostly taught theater culture from the English and the Greek. After listening to a few lectures that covered some facts about French and Italian culture, I was curious why I was never introduced to them. The few plays that were written from the French and Italian playwrights seemed fantastic and from the sound of it, the over atmosphere was better - more controlled and focus. That brought up a question in my mind: How did English theater culture differ from French and Italian culture? 

Regarding the atmosphere of the theater, French and Italian theater were very different from that of the English. The English theaters were made of wood, and were often very disorderly and dirty. In fact, because of those reasons, many, if not all, of the theaters eventually burned down and people avoided them because of the diseases within the theaters. During plays, many other activities would be going on simultaneously. One would often see other attractions - sometimes illegal - such as food vending, prostitution, contraband a and bear baiting. That was simply because the English theater companies saw performances as a business and needed to keep the attention of the audience in order to entertain them and persuade them to come back.

The Rose Theater from the English Renaissance Era

The French and Italian theaters, on the other hand, had a very different atmosphere. The theaters were sponsored by the government and favored a more controlled and settled atmosphere. Consequently, the French and Italian theater turned out to be more luxurious in the process. There was no need for commercial enterprises during performances because of the government's funding. It was mostly the aristocratic class that went to the performances. 

France's Renovated Court Theater in Versailles 

Another difference in English theater culture and French and Italian culture is the number of plays written. The English, who looked at theater as a very competitive business, wrote many plays especially during the golden age of drama and theater. During this period, many fantastic plays were written by playwrights such as William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, Thomas Dekker and John Webster. The playwrights of the English mostly wrote with political objectives and commercial motives in mind. 

William Shakespeare - The Most Famous Playwright of the Golden Age

The French and Italians also made great plays although not as many as the English. Still, there were a few notable playwrights from France such as Pierre Corneille, Jean Racine, and Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, Italy also had great playwrights such as Ludovico Ariosto, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Pietro Aretino. The French mostly performed ballets due to the aristocrat's love for it and the Italians fell in love with operas.

Famous French Playwright Pierre Corneille

Overall, it is evident that there are differences between English Theater Culture and French and Italian Theater Culture. After researching Renaissance French and Italian theater culture, I hope that I can someday see a play written from this era of playwrights.