Popular Entertainment

• What are some examples of entertainment ?

  • public execution
  • cockighting
  • archery
  • Hawking
  • Bearbaiting
  • Hunting
  • Dancing
  • Ballgames
• Public execution

  • enjoyed by all classes and both genders
  • punishments were public and graphic during this time
  • people would swarm to watch once a bell was rung
• Cockfighting

  • enjoyed by all classes and both genders
  • up to twenty birds were put into a ring to fight until one bird was left
  • bets were placed on which bird would win
• Archery

  • Tudor men over the age of 24 were expected to practice archery on Sundays after church
  • They would shoot a target with either a long bow or cross bow
• Hawking

  • rich men and women
  • Hawks train to fly off and catch prey
  • bells were attached to the bird’s legs, so the owner knew where it was
• Bear baiting

  • enjoyed by all classes and both genders
  • Many towns had arenas where bulls or bears were tied up and attacked by dogs
  • Spectators would place bets on how many dogs would be killed by the bear/ bull
  • The arenas were designed to copy the theatres of the time
  • Elizabeth was a huge fan of this sport and stopped MPs passing a law to ban the cruel sport in 1585
• Hunting

  • rich men and women
  • Noble Tudors would host great parties where they would hunt stags, deer and hares on both foot and horses
• Dancing

  • Although, all classes enjoyed dancing, the rich could afford musicians to play at large dances
  • Elizabeth was known as a very good dancer at this time
  • only men were allowed to be paid musicians
• Ball games


  • Tennis was created during the Tudor period with two players hitting a small ball towards each other with either the hand or a small racket
  • Skittles (like bowling) was also an enjoyable game played by all classes
  • The roughest game of the time was football usually played by the lower classes. There were no rules and no limit on the number of players meaning injuries and death were very common.
• what were bands of strolling players?

  • around when theatres weren’t yet introduced
  • they would tour the country performing plays in each town
• What was a popular play that was later banned?

  The adventures of Robin Hood where it triumphed the poor over the rich
• Why were bands of strolling players banned in 1572?


  growing fears that they were made up of vagabonds causing the spread of disease
• What was the name of the theatre company Robert Dudley created?


  Earl of Leicester’s players in 1574

  • women weren’t allowed to be actors, so many men had to play women parts
• Who raised enough money to build Britain’s first theatre?

  James Burbage
• When was the first theatre built in Britain?

  In 1576, which was called ‘The Theatre’
• What type of plays were mainly played in theatres?

  shakespearean plays
• Who did the theatre appeal to?

  The rich and poor
• what were disadvantages towards the theatre?

  • The population of London grew from 50,000 in 1500 to 200,000 in 1603 which meant authorities became increasingly concerned about law & order
  • theatres were built outside the city to avoid large gatherings
  • many people believed that the theatre was distracting from God‘s duty, they believed It to be the work of the devil