Final answer:
Before the construction of theatres, acting was performed in religious settings such as Greek temples or during liturgical dramas in churches, evolved into public spaces like town squares, and eventually traveled on Pageant Wagons. Permanent theatre structures, such as the Globe Playhouse, came later as societal attitudes changed, allowing for purpose-built spaces for theater.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before Theatres: The Origins of Acting Spaces
Before the construction of dedicated theatres, acting and theatrical performances took place in various locations that mirrored the changing social contexts and religious practices over time. One of the earliest examples can be traced back to Ancient Greece around 700 B.C., where theatres were built near temples dedicated to Dionysus and theatre was an integral part of religious celebrations. The term theatre originates from the Greek word theatron, which means “a place of seeing.”
In Rome, early Roman theatre was much like the Greek model, initially festival-based, which eventually led to permanent stone structures that could seat large audiences. The largest theatre in Rome could hold over 40,000 spectators, an impressive feat of engineering with reverberating acoustics that allowed the entire audience to hear the actors, who often used masks to amplify their expressions.
During the Middle Ages, Western theatre underwent a transformation. Public performance of secular theatre was banned, described as immoral by the Christian Church. However, theatre survived by taking refuge within church rituals. Liturgical dramas were performed with simple settings, costumes, and properties in churches and later evolved to be performed in public venues like church courtyards and town squares. Eventually, these dramas were transported on Pageant Wagons, becoming mobile theatrical productions that traveled across Europe.
As time progressed and societal attitudes towards theatre changed, permanent structures resembling modern theatres began to emerge. The iconic Globe Playhouse, associated with Shakespeare, featured a round ground plan with a thrust stage that extended into the audience, a design that fostered intimate audience engagement. Shakespeare's theatre, like many others of the Elizabethan era, was strategically placed near pubs and outside city limits due to the legal restrictions on theatrical activities within towns.