Groundlings were the lowest level of British theater patrons during the 1600s. In Shakespeare's time, a groundling would pay a single English penny. They would then be able to stand in the yard of the circular theater. Patrons who paid two pennies avoided the stigma of being a groundling. They received the luxury of sitting in actual seats.
Groundlings were also known as "stinkards." And they were infamous for being rude, talking during performances, and offering criticism in the form of rotten fruit. Some of the groundlings came to Shakespeare's Globe Theater without any intention of watching the play. Instead, they would sell food and wares. Others groundlings were more interested in "Bear Baiting" -- a vicious sport in which several dogs battle a chained bear.
Two summers ago, I had the pleasure of being a modern day groundling at London's Globe Theater. Fortunately, there were no bears. And no one threw rotten oranges.
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