When did Ben Jonson's play Sejanus His Fall premiere at court?
Ben Jonson's play Sejanus His Fall premiered at court in the winter of 1603. The King's Men performed it again in 1604 at the Globe Theatre.
Questions about Sejanus His Fall
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What happened during the second performance of Sejanus His Fall at the Globe Theatre?
The second performance of Sejanus His Fall ended in disaster when the audience greeted the cast with heckles and hisses. Jonson himself noted that the production was hissed off the stage, leading to no record of another public staging until 1928.
Why did Ben Jonson face political dangers related to Sejanus His Fall in 1618?
Ben Jonson faced political dangers because accusations of popery and treason were based on the content of Sejanus His Fall following a dispute with the Earl of Northampton. One theory suggests the fall of Sejanus mirrored the execution of the Earl of Essex in 1601 or paralleled the 1603 trial of Walter Raleigh.
Who contributed to the original stage version of Sejanus His Fall before publication?
A second writer contributed significantly to the original stage version of Sejanus His Fall, though their identity remains unknown. Some scholars speculate William Shakespeare wrote the missing portions since he acted in the play, while George Chapman remains another candidate.
When was the first quarto edition of Sejanus His Fall printed by George Eld?
George Eld printed the quarto edition of Sejanus His Fall in 1605 after Thomas Thorpe received copyright transfer from Edward Blount on the 6th of August 1605. This first publication included copious marginal notes citing historical sources.
Which modern productions revived interest in Ben Jonson's play Sejanus His Fall?
William Poel staged the play in 1928 after a long silence between 1604 and 1928. The Royal Shakespeare Company produced the work again in 2005, and Red Bull Theatre presented a livestream on the 17th of May 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.