At the Globe theatre, How did the audiences participate in the plays?

Question

For skool, I have to answer some questions about Shakespeare's plays and the Globe theater. One question was How did the audiences participate in the plays? I looked all over but nobody knew what they did..... Please help!

Answer 1

Audience participation at Shakespeare's Globe depended on where one sat. The lowest seats were closest to the stage, and were for the poorer "low class" people. The rich folks sat in the highest seats, and in between you'd find the middle class.
Shakespeare had a talent for being able to reach all of the levels of society with his plays. Lewd and coarse humor was written for the middle and lower classes, hence the term"low humor".
Cutting satire and political references were intended for the more refined and better educated upper class and nobility. Typically
the responses of the lower classes went from catcalls to throwing rotten produce or rocks, while the upper classes at times may have joined them, were usually more dignified.
ie: hand clapping, cheers, and tossing small coins or flowers.

Answer 2

It's well known that the "groundlings" (i.e., the poorer theatre-goers, who crowded the area immediately in front of the stage, as opposed to the wealthier patrons who sat in the upper boxes) were VERY vocal during performances. I'm sure you can find more information if you Google the Globe.

In my experience performing Shakespeare's works, there have been times when you'd swear that Shakespeare actually KNEW when the groundlings were going to erupt...and scripted responses accordingly.

Answer 3

Mostly by throwing rotten vegetables and fruit at those whose performance they deemed as 'sucking' (or awful).

they were pretty harsh back in those days and actors were considered to be very low on societies ladder (oddly contrasted with todays 'celebrity' madness).