In honor of National Hair Day, let’s take a peek at popular hairstyles for Elizabethan women! Length of Hair An unmarried woman kept her hair long and showed off its fullness in public. However, once married, she would always arrange her hair in an updo. Hair Color Queen Elizabeth I had naturally red hair. To honor her, countless English nobles matched the red hue. Besides wearing wigs, affluent ladies often dyed their hair yellow with a mixture of saffron, cumin seed, celand

In honor of National Dance Day, let’s take a gander at the Elizabethans’ passion for dance! Topics Include: Elizabethans - The Early Triple/Quadruple Threats? Dance in Plays Dance Schools Queen Elizabeth I’s Influence Class Divides Upper Class & Lower Class Dances Elizabethans - The Early Triple/Quadruple Threats? Have you ever heard of a “triple threat”? In today’s entertainment industry, this term typically refers to someone who can act, sing, and dance. For many years, pro

Last week, we questioned whether Katherina (the “shrew”) spoke her mind when she advised women to treat their husbands as “Thy head, thy sovereign.” Well— Fun Fact: Katherina’s speech was strikingly similar to that of Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s wife in real life. Since Shakespeare’s audience knew Parr never turned fully tame, they inferred Katherina wouldn’t either. And an untamed Katherina would not believe herself inferior to her husband. Confused or curious? Let’s explor

In honor of International Pirate Month, we’ll discuss the rocky pirate situation during Shakespeare’s time & how this influenced his plays! Note--While reading, keep in mind Shakespeare lived between 1564 & 1616, writing his most famous works around 1590-1613. Therefore, he witnessed firsthand the following evolving attitudes toward English piracy. BRIEF HISTORY Elizabeth I: Pirates Turn from Criminals to Heroes Let’s begin in 1558. Following Mary’s death, Elizabeth I became