During the time in which Queen Elizabeth was in power there existed plays known as Elizabethan Drama; from

1558 up to 1603. Many people began watching plays at this period. Since a number of playhouses had been opened there was increased number of audience, the largest and most famous of which was the Globe Theater (1599), home to many of Shakespeare's works. The History of the Elizabethan drama started with the wandering actors who moved from town to town. During the Elizabethan era visitors were not welcomed by the locals, this also applied to wandering actors. The reputations of Elizabethan actors were that of beggars and robbers. A license was required for one to move from one place to another. The nobles were granted licenses so as to maintain groups of actors thus the formation of Elizabethan acting groups. The inn-yards were used as theatre by the traveling actors where audience would watch them perform. These temporary stages had to be erected and the actors moved around from one venue to another. At that time the largest theatre would hold a total of 500 audiences and this too was not properly built. It was not until 1576 when a business man known as James Burbage obtained permission to build one in London, thus the beginning of the History of the Elizabethan Theatre.

Most plays during the Elizabethan era were based on the histories of the rulers of England although some were also based on topics of revenge and rude comedies which also drew significant crowds. A Shakespeare was the most popular of all play writers during this era although other writers also existed some included Christopher Marlowe known as Dr Faustus and Ben Johnson also known as The Alchemist Most plays before the age of Elizabethan drama were based on issues of religion. However during Queen Elizabeth reign most plays diversified their themes and focused on more secular issues. Noted in most plays were issues of heroic history of England and this also served to attract large numbers of audience. Some of the historic plays written then were Edward II written by Shakespeare others included Richard III and Henry V. Most plays based on the tragedies of the era focused on creating a sense of terror and pity in the audience. Shakespeare was the master of tragedy. Although most investors were not fans of plays it was during the Elizabethan drama that quite a number would enjoy going there for entertainment for the first time. Shakespeare also wrote plays that made fun of the society at the time and its institutions this also endeared him and other writers to the audience. Unfortunately the Elizabethan drama faced a lot of challenges among them the outbreak of the lethal Bubonic Plague commonly referred to as the Black Death. This outbreak was quickly spread in public places such as the theatres and thus people who went there were mostly infected. Objections to the theaters increased from the Church, the City Officials and Respectable London citizens due to rise in crime, the vulgar nature of some of the plays, fighting, drinking and the spread of the Bubonic Plague in theatre. It was in 1596 when leaders of the city of London finally decided to ban all public presentation of plays and all theaters within the City of London.