- The Globe Theatre, where many of Shakespeare's plays were performed, charged different prices for different parts of the theater:
- The "groundlings" who stood in the open yard paid one penny.
- The "galleries" or "scaffolds" (covered seating) cost two pennies.
- The "gentlemen's rooms" (private boxes) cost three or four pennies.
- The Curtain Theatre, another popular playhouse, also had varying prices:
- The groundlings paid one penny, while the galleries cost two pennies.
- The "lords' rooms" (private boxes) cost six pennies.
- Some plays were more expensive than others. For instance, new or popular plays might have higher admission prices.
- Some theaters offered discounts or free admission to certain groups, such as apprentices or members of the military.
Overall, the cost of admission to public plays in Shakespeare's time was relatively affordable and accessible to people from different social classes.