r stage and costumes, or any other needed prop, around from place to place in carts. This gathering of actors would set up their temporary stages in any place that would permit, such as a town square, or even a private house in which the troupe was invited in for a private show. Other possible locations included schools, churches and even inn yards.
             The latter mentioned proved to be the best locale. The yard provided a large open area with two or more galleries from which to view, that surrounded it. Adjacent stables provided dressing rooms for the actors. For a street show, the actors had to wear layers of costumes and just pull them off as needed, or use a tapestry suspended from an existing building or frame, to provide some privacy. Even then, the temporary space was only large enough for one person at a time.
             For the troupe to receive any money from the audience, the actors would perform up until a climactic part in the play, such as a death scene, or one that revealed pertinent information to the story line, then they would calmly ask for a collection of money. Once some coins were tossed onto the platform, the play would continue.
             As the popularity of acting troupes grew, the number of playgoers increased also. The makeshift arrangements of venues became more and more insufficient. The innkeepers figured out that when there was not any entertainment around, business was almost at a stand still. As soon as the troupes arrived at their village, business picked up dramatically, excuse the pun.
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