Boy actors in Shakespearean theatre

Abstract

This dissertation will investigate the identity and role of the boy players present in William Shakespeare’s (1564-1616) acting company during the Elizabethan era through research based on an understanding of the socio-political situation of the time. The tradition of the boy players shall be explored through an examination of their origin, their purpose and their influence on Shakespeare’s work in theatre, focusing on their involvement in the playwright’s comedies and tragedies including, Twelfth Night (1602), As You Like It (1603) and Anthony and Cleopatra (1606), just to name a few. Research hypotheses shall question the boy actors’ process of becoming professional players and their relationship with the space, time and audience of the Globe stage where Shakespeare presented most of his work. Further research shall be implemented in the analyses of contemporary performances of Shakespeare to examine the current situation of the boy actor and why their tradition has been subdued to silence. This investigation is being conducted to bring light upon the Elizabethan boy players due to the lack of academic research and factual information based on the subject, in hopes that it can serve as an overview of the topic in question.