A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Class 7: Theater Wars (Act 1)

Lecture Topic: Professional vs. Amateur Theater Companies

Shakespeare’s play reflects the stratified society in which he lived. The royals versus the tradesmen were only one part of the battles; theater companies were another front in the culture wars. Professional acting troupes, like Shakespeare’s company (operating under the patronage of Lord Chamberlain)[hypertext: http://www.enotes.com/ocs-encyclopedia/chamberlains-men-kings-men], resented amateur companies like Bottom’s ragtag group of players in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

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