ABSTRACT
Most performances of Tudor interludes took place in the Great Halls which were the centre of royal palaces, castles, private mansions, guildhalls, school buildings and colleges. Great halls were fairly similar in layout, though they could vary in size from the huge to the intimate. The typical great hall encouraged the actor to develop a strong intimacy with the spectators. The success of the performance depended hugely on the vigour and commitment of the actors. Their performances had to be more nuanced than those of the outdoor players, because they were closer to the spectators, and the action was happening virtually among them. They were helped by the plays which use stock types, and conventional gags, relationships and motifs, but the player had to be quick-witted and versatile. Most interesting from the point of view, perhaps, are the stage directions in John Skelton’s Magnificence, which give us a glimpse of the performances which Tudor actors might aspire to.
