The History of English Podcast
Episode 176: All the World’s a Playhouse
Host: Kevin Stroud
Release Date: May 9, 2024

Introduction: The Theatrical Influence on English

In Episode 176, titled "All the World’s a Playhouse," Kevin Stroud delves into the profound impact of Elizabethan theaters on the English language. Stroud emphasizes that it wasn't just the plays themselves, but the very venues—the playhouses—that contributed enduring words and phrases to English. He states, “[...] Theaters were such an integral part of Elizabethan England that the venues themselves contributed words that survive to this day” ([00:09]).

The Rise of Elizabethan Theaters

Stroud traces the origins of permanent theaters in London to the 1570s with the construction of the first playhouse simply known as "The Theatre." This establishment marked the emergence of English drama as a significant art form, giving rise to literary masterpieces from the early modern period, including works by William Shakespeare. Following "The Theatre," other notable venues such as the Curtain, the Rose, and the Swan were established in Southwark, a thriving cultural hub south of the Thames. Stroud notes, “By the 1590s, the most popular pastime in London was going out to watch a play. It’s been estimated that well over half of the city’s population went to the theater on a weekly basis” ([Transcript], early segment).

Architectural Insights: The Rose Theatre Excavation

The excavation of the Rose Theatre in 1989 unveiled surprising details about Elizabethan playhouses. Contrary to contemporary drawings suggesting a six-sided structure, the Rose was discovered to have 14 sides. Artifacts such as swords, shoes, and even a human skull were unearthed, hinting at possible rituals or superstitions associated with performances. Stroud explains, “The excavation revealed that it actually had 14 sides... The Skull could have been a prop, but it was lodged in one of the walls in the stage area” ([Transcript], mid-section).

Linguistic Contributions from the Theater

Elizabethan theaters were fertile grounds for linguistic innovation. Stroud explores various words and phrases that originated from theater terminology:

• Pit/Ochestra: The open yard where groundlings stood to watch performances was referred to as the "pit," a term borrowed from arenas like those for cockfighting. He states, “That term pit still survives as the name of the area in front of the stage” ([Transcript], middle section).

• Orchestra: Derived from the Greek word for a dancing place, "orchestra" initially referred to the area in front of the stage. Stroud clarifies, “The word orchestra is ultimately a Greek word, and it literally meant the place for dancing” ([Transcript], subsequent section).

• Gallery/Balcony: Elevated platforms known as "galleries" housed wealthier patrons and later evolved into "balconies." Stroud mentions, “Balcony is ultimately an Italian word... and that term was then applied to these elevated galleries” ([Transcript], later segment).

• Box Office: The term "box office" is traced back to the "box" seats in early theaters, where patrons paid for cushioned seats. Stroud notes, “According to the OED, the term can ultimately be traced back to the box seats in those early theaters” ([Transcript], near end of the section).

Shakespeare’s Linguistic Legacy

Stroud highlights Shakespeare’s remarkable contribution to English, recounting how phrases like “the game is afoot” and “the world’s mine oyster” were first recorded in his plays. For instance, in Henry IV, the character Falstaff uses the phrase “the game is afoot,” which Stroud connects to its later popularity in the Sherlock Holmes series. He also discusses the creation of proverbs such as “discretion is the better part of valor” from Falstaff’s lines. Stroud remarks, “...Falstaff says, the better part of valor is discretionary... that line actually gave us the well-known proverb, discretion is the better part of valor” ([Transcript], advanced section).

Cross-Cultural Influences and New Vocabulary

The episode underscores the influx of words from distant cultures due to increased global interactions during the Elizabethan era. Stroud cites the publication of “A Report on the Kingdom of Congo” (1597), which introduced words like "zebra," "banana," "cocoa," and "kola nut" to English. He explains, “The publication of this book illustrates the expanding scope of words that were coming into English during the Elizabethan period” ([Transcript], later segment).

John Florio and the Expansion of English

John Florio emerges as a pivotal figure in expanding the English lexicon. His dictionary, "A World of Words" (1598), recorded around 44,000 words, many of which were traced back to his translations from Italian. Stroud points out, “Florio's dictionary contained about 44,000 words... he recorded a lot of English words for the first time” ([Transcript], near the end).

Florio is credited with introducing terms such as "destination," "negotiate," "compromise," and everyday phrases like "main street" and "sidewalk." Notably, he was the first to document the possessive "its," marking a significant grammatical evolution. Stroud elaborates, “Florio was one of the first to use 'its' in writing... this was a new pronoun form at the time” ([Transcript], concluding segment).

The Globe Theater: A Symbol of Global Influence

The culmination of the episode details the creation of the Globe Theater, a monumental structure symbolizing the global reach of English culture. As lease issues threatened the existing theaters, the Burbage brothers orchestrated the relocation and reconstruction of "The Theatre" into the new Globe in Southwark. Stroud narrates, “They looked around and were able to secure a lease for a plot of land in the area... they reassembled the pieces on their new plot of land in Southwark” ([Transcript], final sections).

The Globe’s name and its Latin motto, “Totus mundus agit histrionum” (“All the world’s a playhouse”), encapsulated the era’s expanding worldview. Stroud connects this to Shakespeare’s famous line in As You Like It, highlighting the enduring legacy of both the theater and its linguistic contributions.

Conclusion: The Ongoing Evolution of English

Kevin Stroud wraps up the episode by setting the stage for future discussions on Shakespeare's tragic plays and further developments in English. He underscores the interconnectedness of cultural venues, literary works, and linguistic evolution during the Elizabethan period, painting a vivid picture of how theaters like the Globe were central to the spoken history of English.

Notable Quotes:

• “[...] Theaters were such an integral part of Elizabethan England that the venues themselves contributed words that survive to this day” — Kevin Stroud ([00:09])

• “The term pit still survives as the name of the area in front of the stage” — Kevin Stroud (mid-section)

• “Balcony is ultimately an Italian word... and that term was then applied to these elevated galleries” — Kevin Stroud (later segment)

• “The Globe’s name and its Latin motto, ‘Totus mundus agit histrionum’ (‘All the world’s a playhouse’), encapsulated the era’s expanding worldview” — Kevin Stroud (final sections)

This comprehensive exploration by Kevin Stroud not only illuminates the intimate relationship between Elizabethan theaters and the English language but also underscores the lasting cultural and linguistic legacies that continue to shape modern English.