There were several reasons that drama became an important part of court life during the Elizabethan era. The first reason was that Queen Elizabeth herself enjoyed it. Unlike some of her debauched male relatives, Elizabeth was intelligent and well-educated, fluent in Latin, and enjoyed intelligent entertainment rather than just drunken revelry.
Drama was an important medium of entertainment in a society that lacked video games, television, and even electricity. Books were extremely expensive and could only be read by one person at a time. Dramatic and musical performances could entertain groups of people. Nobles of the period were expected to have artistic skills, including the ability to play instruments, sing, act, and write poetry. The nobles themselves might perform in court masques, although other plays were performed by professional actors.
Finally, being a patron of a dramatic troupe was a way for a noble to display wealth and taste and perhaps please the Queen by commissioning plays she would enjoy.
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