Why were Shakespearean actors in control of the production of a play?

Question

Why were Shakespearean actors in control of the production of a play?

Answer 1

By dint that their acting was the only thing going on. There were no lighting and few special effects. One has to wonder if the audience was not as much in control with so much going on out there.

Answer 2

I wasn't aware they were, and given that the originals worked that craft 500 years ago, I suspect accounts are sketchy at best.

   Essentially Willie was not strictly a DIRECTOR. His intensity and passions went far beyond strictly how his works would be presented, NOT that he didn't care, but was already into his next thing.

   As a Genius I also suspect he suspected His work would be eternal, and why linger over, touch up, dictate about, something that works? Can "YOU" name anyone who has ever "REFINED" his work???

   The actors of his day, much as they are today, were passionate about the craft, but also ego centered. If you've ever worked with any cast, as part of one, you might GET IT.

There were no unions, no laws governing; other than what was accepted as valid and allowed to be viewed. You want a good example of CONTROL, check out any BIO of Mozart.

   WILLIE was never strictly STIFLED, as he did as much as he could to color inside the lines, while just barely pushing the boundaries of tolerance. Those ghosts of original casts, and more recently, film stars re-working WILLIES efforts, should pay homage to the why and where they are.

Just my 2 "scents"

Answer 3

Because that's the way the did it back then. They were often the investors too, and the play writers, costume makers, and everything else.

Answer 4

Because generally the same actors that performed a production were their own acting troupe. They perform always together, and travel together as well. They're like family, thus all working together to run a production. Now of course there were some people that had higher statuses than others, but theatre is mainly a collaboration.  Good troupes would bring in a good audience, thus the production could be performed at a nice theatre which would bring more money in to the theatre as well as the production.