The Spanish Golden Age coincided with the height of Spanish power 1400-1700

1. Describe the characteristics of the time period/genre (prevalent themes, forms)

The plays of the Spanish Golden Age included secular and religious plays called auto
sacramentales. The plays mixed human and supernatural beings. Comedia nueva,
became a popular form to write plays in the 1590s. Comedia Nuevas included 3 act
plays, that mixed tragedy and comedy and history, myths and legends and the Bible.
Typical characters of plays were a caballero, a gentleman ,a galan, a cavalier a dama, a
lady and a gracisio, a fool.
2. Describe the theaters.
The theaters of the Spanish Golden age were called corrales. Corrales were public,
open-air theaters where secular plays were performed for the common people they
were similar to an elizabethan playhouse. The theaters had a central pit surrounded by
patios. Alojeras where refreshment booths and had galleries above them for more
seating, cazuelas that were reserved for women and aposentos, which were box seats.
The Corral de la Cruz was built in 1579 and was Madrid's first permanent theater.
3. Who were the particular audiences?
Theater was popular among all social ranks. There was a fee to enter the theater and
another to be seated. Traditionally, men and women were to be separated in the
audiences, but the rule was rarely enforced. The crowds were loud and rowdy. The
Cazuelas were often the most unruly section. Performances at court began during Philip
IIs reign.
4. Leading performers? Playwrights?
Some of the most famous playwrights of the time were Tirso De Molina Guillen De
Castro, Lope Felix de Vega Carpio and Ruiz de Alarcn, . One the most famous
playwrights was Pedro Calderon del Barca. There were traveling acting troupes that
performed plays on carts during religious festivals. Religious plays were reserved for
professional troupes. Women were allowed to be on stage until 1587 when it was
banned because it was against the church. In 1598 women were allowed on stage
again with one exception: if there husband or father was in the troupe and they werent
permitted to dress as the opposite gender.
5. Describe the circumstances in that society which gave rise to the theater.
The rise of theater and literature began after the expulsion of the Moors out of Spain in
the 1400s. With the Spanish inquisition, Catholicism was secure in Spain while many
religious wars were being fought all throughout Europe. This was the height of Spanish
power and influence.
6. How did the theater in turn influence society?
Public theaters were usually licensed to charities, which aided the poor and sick.
7. How did the ancient theater evolve and influence contemporary theater?
Spanish theater influenced many of the places that Spain occupied like the Philippines
where komedya which was derived from the European play writing styles brought by
Spanish soldiers. Spanish speaking countries once occupied by the spanish also write
auto sacramentales.
The Spanish Golden Age ended when the Spanish Armada was defeated, causing
Spanish power and influence to decrease rapidly.