There are several reasons why women were not allowed to act in plays during Shakespeare's time. One reason was the societal belief that women were not capable of performing on stage. It was thought that women were too emotional and frivolous to convincingly portray male characters. Another reason was the practical concern that women would distract the audience from the play. In a time when plays were often the only form of entertainment, any deviation from the expected performance could be detrimental to the production.
Despite these restrictions, there were a few actresses who managed to perform on stage during Shakespeare's time. These women were typically members of traveling troupes, or "vagabond players," who were not subject to the same restrictions as the companies that performed in London. While these actresses faced many challenges, they paved the way for future generations of female performers.
The tradition of men playing female roles continued until the early 19th century, when actresses began to be accepted on the English stage. By the end of the 19th century, women were performing in all types of roles, and they have since become a vital part of the theater world.