The acting profession was considered to be a disreputable and immoral occupation for women, and it was believed that allowing women to perform on stage would lead to moral corruption and social disorder. Additionally, women were not allowed to wear men's clothing in public, which would have been necessary for them to play male roles.
As a result of these restrictions, Shakespeare's plays and those of his contemporaries were performed exclusively by all-male casts. This practice continued until the Restoration period in the late 17th century, when women were finally allowed to take to the stage.