This caused great hardship for the theatre companies and the actors who relied on them for their living. Some of the companies were able to tour the provinces, but others were forced to disband. The actors who were left unemployed often turned to crime or prostitution in order to survive.
The closure of the theatres had a significant impact on the development of English drama. During this period, many playwrights turned to writing closet dramas (plays that were not intended for performance). Some of these closet dramas were among the most significant works of the Elizabethan era, including Shakespeare's _Hamlet_, _Othello_, and _King Lear_.
When the theatres reopened in 1594, they were subject to new restrictions. The government imposed a licensing system on all plays, and the theatres were only allowed to operate on certain days of the week. Despite these restrictions, the theatre industry in London quickly recovered, and the city soon became the centre of the English-speaking world for drama.