Fencing between 1558 -1603

'Recreation during the Elizabethan Era encompassed spectator blood sports, team sports, and individual amusement activities. Most of the sports of the Elizabethan era were carried over from the Medieval period.
           Fencing was one of the most popular of sports. Betting was commonplace as one of the contestants might bet that he could hit his opponent a certain number of times. In addition, much time was spent with the sport of hawking - very popular with gentlemen. Training a hawk or a falcon began with the capturing of a wild bird, then taming it by sealing its eyes with needle and thread, then tying the thread back over the head of the bird so that the trainer could open and close the bird's eyes at will. The temporary blinding made it very easy to train the hawk or falcon to hunt other birds. Bells were attached to the birds legs so that the trainer could keep track of its whereabouts.'
                                                  http://www.erasofelegance.com/history/elizabethanlife.html

Elizabethan Research

Name: Queen Elizabeth I
Born: September 7, 1533 at Greenwich Palace
Parents: Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn
Relation to Elizabeth II: 1st cousin 13 times removed
House of: Tudor
Ascended to the throne: November 17, 1558 aged 25 years
Crowned: January 15, 1559 at Westminster Abbey
Married: Never Married
Children: None
Died: March 24, 1603 at Richmond Palace, Surrey, aged 69 years, 6 months, and 15 days
Buried at: Westminster
Reigned for: 44 years, 4 months, and 5 days
Succeeded by: her 3rd cousin James of Scotland

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'At the time Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1558, Catholics and Protestants wrangled for political power in England. Because she was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth's claim to the throne was threatened by the Roman Catholic view that her parents' marriage was not legal. As a result, Elizabeth aligned herself with the Protestants. Seeking to avoid unnecessary conflict, Elizabeth sought to chart a moderate course for England's religious establishment. However, England's defeat of the Spanish Armada during her reign marked not only a political victory but the championing of Protestantism in England and the rest of Europe.'  
     http://www.erasofelegance.com/history/elizabethanreligion.html 

Further Process...

I went to the Arts Theatre Nottingham, I went to visit the site to get a better understanding about the space. I took some picture of the stage area, particularly looking at the floor, proscenium, curtains, chairs and anything else I thought that would be beneficial to my work.

Processes...

I found the original concept of my idea really early, choosing to use the ideas of old, crumbling, decaying and destoryed themes which i thought connected to the storyline of Hamlet like a glove. I found out that it would be a good idea. The image i chose to demonstrate my idea was shown in the blogger post below this one, of the abandoned theatre. I liked the textures and thought further about the idea of having the set 'fall apart.'In this context, and for health and safety reasoning, i would have it so that during Hamlets soliloques, Hamlet himself would destroy the set. Ripping loose bricks out the wall, kicking in the theatre chairs so tha the furthest chair to the left of the picture below would be able to be punched of kick off its hinges.

Idea...

 For my set design for Hamlet, I have decided to create a play of time. Setting the play within an abandoned theatre auditorium. I liked to appearance and text of the buildings in the research I have done previously >

http://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2011/02/spectacular-abandoned-theatres-cinemas-northeastern-united-states/

I have thought about the play Hamlet and how it is Shakespeare's most famous play, and how long it has been going on for.I liked the image above and thought about whether I could make a set design which depicts how the lay has travelled through time and interpreted by a theatre group, which has not got the funds to put on an extravagant play but they have been performing it for years. 

My whole idea is around time and ageing. For the set I would make it quite simple and minimal as the scene changes are very fast and fluent, so i feel that a minimal set will help the pace of the show. 

The costumes will be aged in appearance, faded and weathered. I feel that with all the idea that I could do, I feel strongest about this piece as I think it shows the loyalty to the play and the history and culture of the past.

Tim Walker Photography

Glass Magazine -Tim Walker 

Tim Walker

Decay, Rotting, Abandoned and Lost in Time

Abandoned buildings...