Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post Reply
User avatar
cronus
Black Market Analyst
Posts: 18122
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2012 7:09 pm
About me: Illis quos amo deserviam
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:
Contact cronus

Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by cronus » Tue Jun 18, 2013 3:41 am

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-22938866

Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Child performers on the Elizabethan stage were subjected to abduction, cruelty and violence, reveals a study by a University of Oxford academic.

Dr Bart van Es says court documents show some child actors had been forcibly snatched from the streets and threatened into performing.

Their parents were then legally obstructed from rescuing them from working in London's seediest theatres.

Dr van Es says these children faced "systematic exploitation and abuse".

The study of London's theatre in the late 16th and early 17th Century reveals a dark underside of cruelty to children.

'Violence and force'

From the 1570s, there had been theatrical troupes in which all the performers were boys, competing for audiences with plays performed by adults.

But research from Dr van Es has examined the cruel way in which some of these children had been seized with "violence and force", kept as captives and threatened with whipping.

These street kidnappings were not illegal, as the theatre owners had licences to forcibly recruit children. These powers had been granted by Queen Elizabeth I and carried her royal seal.

Dr van Es, a fellow of St Catherine's College, says that in theory these powers were intended to find choristers for the royal chapel, but it was an "open secret" they were really about forcing youngsters to join commercial theatre companies.

Theatre owners exploited this royal approval, saying it gave them "authority sufficient so to take any nobleman's son in the land".

(continued)
What will the world be like after its ruler is removed?
Top
User avatar
Xamonas Chegwé
Bouncer
Bouncer
Posts: 50939
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:23 pm
About me: I have prehensile eyebrows.
I speak 9 languages fluently, one of which other people can also speak.
When backed into a corner, I fit perfectly - having a right-angled arse.
Location: Nottingham UK
Contact:
Contact Xamonas Chegwé

Re: Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by Xamonas Chegwé » Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:04 am

How long before descendants of those children sue the Royal Shakespeare Company for damages? :hehe:
A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return.
Salman Rushdie
You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic.
House MD
Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view.
Sandy Denny
This is the wrong forum for bluffing :nono:
Paco
Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish!
Calilasseia
I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants.
Twoflower
Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse
Millefleur
Top
User avatar
cronus
Black Market Analyst
Posts: 18122
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2012 7:09 pm
About me: Illis quos amo deserviam
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:
Contact cronus

Re: Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by cronus » Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:08 am

Xamonas Chegwé wrote:How long before descendants of those children sue the Royal Shakespeare Company for damages? :hehe:
These things don't take centuries.....should imagine a lot of scores got settled in the civil war? :coffee:
What will the world be like after its ruler is removed?
Top
devogue

Re: Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by devogue » Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:12 am

At least it kept them off the streets etc.
Top
User avatar
Xamonas Chegwé
Bouncer
Bouncer
Posts: 50939
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:23 pm
About me: I have prehensile eyebrows.
I speak 9 languages fluently, one of which other people can also speak.
When backed into a corner, I fit perfectly - having a right-angled arse.
Location: Nottingham UK
Contact:
Contact Xamonas Chegwé

Re: Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by Xamonas Chegwé » Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:17 am

There;'s worse things can happen to an unwashed orphan than a bit part in Casualty, I suppose. :tea:
A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return.
Salman Rushdie
You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic.
House MD
Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view.
Sandy Denny
This is the wrong forum for bluffing :nono:
Paco
Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish!
Calilasseia
I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants.
Twoflower
Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse
Millefleur
Top
User avatar
cronus
Black Market Analyst
Posts: 18122
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2012 7:09 pm
About me: Illis quos amo deserviam
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:
Contact cronus

Re: Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by cronus » Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:26 am

Xamonas Chegwé wrote:There;'s worse things can happen to an unwashed orphan than a bit part in Casualty, I suppose. :tea:
Far worse. A bit part in a total civilization collapse. :tup:
What will the world be like after its ruler is removed?
Top
User avatar
Xamonas Chegwé
Bouncer
Bouncer
Posts: 50939
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:23 pm
About me: I have prehensile eyebrows.
I speak 9 languages fluently, one of which other people can also speak.
When backed into a corner, I fit perfectly - having a right-angled arse.
Location: Nottingham UK
Contact:
Contact Xamonas Chegwé

Re: Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by Xamonas Chegwé » Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:28 am

Scrumple wrote:
Xamonas Chegwé wrote:There;'s worse things can happen to an unwashed orphan than a bit part in Casualty, I suppose. :tea:
Far worse. A bit part in a total civilization collapse. :tup:
We all landed that part by your reckoning. Still waiting for shooting to start. Not to mention my advance... :bored:
A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return.
Salman Rushdie
You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic.
House MD
Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view.
Sandy Denny
This is the wrong forum for bluffing :nono:
Paco
Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish!
Calilasseia
I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants.
Twoflower
Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse
Millefleur
Top
User avatar
cronus
Black Market Analyst
Posts: 18122
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2012 7:09 pm
About me: Illis quos amo deserviam
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:
Contact cronus

Re: Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by cronus » Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:33 am

Xamonas Chegwé wrote:
Scrumple wrote:
Xamonas Chegwé wrote:There;'s worse things can happen to an unwashed orphan than a bit part in Casualty, I suppose. :tea:
Far worse. A bit part in a total civilization collapse. :tup:
We all landed that part by your reckoning. Still waiting for shooting to start. Not to mention my advance... :bored:
The impatience of youth. :coffee:
What will the world be like after its ruler is removed?
Top
User avatar
JimC
The sentimental bloke
Posts: 74143
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:58 am
About me: To be serious about gin requires years of dedicated research.
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:
Contact JimC

Re: Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by JimC » Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:26 am

Ceasing such practices is admirable, I suppose...

Although there is Shirley Temple to consider...
Nurse, where the fuck's my cardigan?
And my gin!
Top
User avatar
Audley Strange
"I blame the victim"
Posts: 7485
Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 5:00 pm
Contact:
Contact Audley Strange

Re: Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by Audley Strange » Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:38 am

The Shirley Temple? Is that those loons with the golden hats that predicted the coming of the great Dawn for mankind and committed mass suicide?
"What started as a legitimate effort by the townspeople of Salem to identify, capture and kill those who did Satan's bidding quickly deteriorated into a witch hunt" Army Man
Top
User avatar
JimC
The sentimental bloke
Posts: 74143
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:58 am
About me: To be serious about gin requires years of dedicated research.
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:
Contact JimC

Re: Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by JimC » Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:42 am

Shirley you can't be serious...
Nurse, where the fuck's my cardigan?
And my gin!
Top
User avatar
klr
(%gibber(who=klr, what=Leprageek);)
Posts: 32964
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:25 pm
About me: The money was just resting in my account.
Location: Airstrip Two
Contact:
Contact klr

Re: Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by klr » Tue Jun 18, 2013 10:11 am

JimC wrote:Shirley you can't be serious...
:hehe:
God has no place within these walls, just like facts have no place within organized religion. - Superintendent Chalmers

It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner

The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson

:mob: :comp: :mob:
Top
User avatar
Animavore
Nasty Hombre
Posts: 39276
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:26 am
Location: Ire Land.
Contact:
Contact Animavore

Re: Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by Animavore » Tue Jun 18, 2013 10:49 am

Ah! Innocent times.
Libertarianism: The belief that out of all the terrible things governments can do, helping people is the absolute worst.
Top
User avatar
Bella Fortuna
Sister Golden Hair
Posts: 79685
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:45 am
About me: Being your slave, what should I do but tend
Upon the hours and times of your desire?
I have no precious time at all to spend,
Nor services to do, till you require.
Location: Scotlifornia
Contact:
Contact Bella Fortuna

Re: Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by Bella Fortuna » Tue Jun 18, 2013 12:04 pm

Audley Strange wrote:The Shirley Temple? Is that those loons with the golden hats that predicted the coming of the great Dawn for mankind and committed mass suicide?
...via this drink:

Image
Sent from my Bollocksberry using Crapatalk.
Image
Food, cooking, and disreputable nonsense: http://miscreantsdiner.blogspot.com/
Top
User avatar
Gawdzilla Sama
Stabsobermaschinist
Posts: 151265
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:24 am
About me: My posts are related to the thread in the same way Gliese 651b is related to your mother's underwear drawer.
Location: Sitting next to Ayaan in Domus Draconis, and communicating via PMs.
Contact:
Contact Gawdzilla Sama

Re: Elizabethan child actors 'kidnapped and whipped'

Post by Gawdzilla Sama » Tue Jun 18, 2013 1:15 pm

Young boys dressed up as girls and playing the love interest for men...

Nah, no problems there. I'm sure the company's owners keep close eye on them and kept them from being used by anyone in the audience with money to spend.
Image
Ein Ubootsoldat wrote:“Ich melde mich ab. Grüssen Sie bitte meine Kameraden.”
Top
Post Reply

Return to “History, Geography & Education”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests