The Theatre
The year 1576 marked a turning point in English cultural history when James Burbage and John Brayne erected The Theatre in Shoreditch. This wooden structure stood just beyond the northern boundary of the City of London, placing it outside the jurisdiction of civil authorities who often opposed theatrical performances. The Mayor and Corporation of London had banned plays in 1572 as a measure against the plague, not wanting to attract crowds of strangers. In 1575 they formally expelled all players from the city, prompting the construction of playhouses in the liberties of Halliwell/Holywell in Shoreditch. Brayne advanced Burbage the money needed to build The Theatre, and in return, Brayne received a portion of the profits and owned some of the property. Burbage married Brayne's sister Ellen in 1575, creating a family bond that would later complicate their business relationship. The Theatre was built on property that had originally been the grounds of the dissolved Halliwell Priory or Holywell. A year later, the Curtain Theatre was built nearby, making the area London's first theatrical and entertainment district.
The building was a polygonal wooden structure with three galleries surrounding an open yard. From one side of the polygon extended a thrust stage into the audience space. The Theatre is said to have cost £700 to construct, which is a considerable sum for the age. The open yard in front of the stage was cobbled and provided standing room for those who paid a penny. For another penny, the attendees were allowed into the galleries where they could either stand or, for a third penny, procure a stool. One of the galleries, though sources do not state which, was divided into small compartments that could be used by the wealthy and aristocrats. The playhouse was a timber building with a tile roof; other materials used to construct the Theatre were brick, sand, lime, lead, and iron. Owing to a lack of paperwork not much is truly known about the Theatre's appearance, but it has been described as an amphitheater. The design possibly adapted from inn-yards that had served as playing spaces for actors and/or bear baiting pits.
The Theatre opened in the autumn of 1576, possibly as a venue for Leicester's Men, the acting company of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. James Burbage was a member of this company when the theatre first began operations. In the 1580s the Admiral's Men took up residence, and James Burbage's son Richard became a member of that troupe. After a disagreement between the company and young Burbage, most of the company left for the Rose Theatre which was under the management of Philip Henslowe. In 1594, Richard Burbage became the leading actor of the Lord Chamberlain's Men which performed at The Theatre until 1597. Poet, playwright and actor William Shakespeare was also in the employ of the company and some of his early plays had their première at The Theatre. At Christmas 1594 Richard was summoned with two other members of his company, William Kempe and William Shakespeare, to act before the queen at Greenwich Palace. Numerous performances before Queen Elizabeth followed, and Shakespeare doubtless often accompanied Burbage on many subsequent professional visits to one or other of the royal palaces.
Towards the end of 1596, problems arose with the property's landlord, Giles Allen. Consequently, in 1597, the Lord Chamberlain's Men were forced to stop playing at The Theatre and moved to the nearby Curtain. The lease had been granted to Richard Burbage and his brother Cuthbert Burbage upon the death of their father. The lease that the late James Burbage had obtained from Allen in 1576 was to last only twenty years, but when that day did come, in 1596, Allen stipulated that the playhouse should only be applied to theatrical purposes for another five years. This stipulation was contested by Burbage, and he and his sons began a harassing lawsuit with Allen. But before the dispute had gone very far Burbage died in the spring of 1597 and the suit was continued by his sons Richard and Cuthbert. Brayne's widow, Margaret Brayne, and former business partner, Robert Myles, filed a lawsuit against the Burbages after Brayne's death in 1586. When they filed lawsuit, Margaret and Robert showed up at The Theatre demanding half of everything inside of it. In disagreement, Richard Burbage physically assaulted Robert Myles, and Robert and Margaret left empty handed.
This state of affairs forced the Burbage brothers to take drastic action to save their investment. In defiance of the landlord and with the help of their friend and financial backer William Smith, chief carpenter Peter Street and ten or twelve workmen, they dismantled the theatre on the night of the 28th of December 1598. They moved the structure piecemeal to Street's yard near to Bridewell. With the onset of more favourable weather in the following spring, the material was ferried over the Thames to reconstruct it as The Globe. Giles Allen then sued Peter Street in January 1599 for trespassing on the property of the Theatre, stating that Street had no right to dismantle the Theatre and move the supplies. He also attempted to sue Cuthbert and Richard Burbage for trespassing. John Hyde legally owned the lease to the Theatre and would return the lease to Richard and Cuthbert Burbage and Margaret Brayne for the sum of £30. Cuthbert paid and outright owned the lease now, ultimately squeezing Margaret Brayne out of the business.
In August 2008, archaeologists from the Museum of London excavating in New Inn Broadway, Shoreditch, announced that they had found the foundation of a polygonal structure they believed to be the remains of the north-eastern corner of The Theatre. The Theatre and Shakespeare's involvement with it are commemorated by two plaques on 86, 90 Curtain Road, the building at the corner with New Inn Yard currently occupied by a Foxtons office. The remains of the theatre are listed as a scheduled monument. Ground plans show the location marked by paved streets, where the common sewer is now Curtain Road and the ditch from the horse-pond is New Inn Yard. The site sits within the modern London Borough of Hackney, just outside the City of London boundaries that once excluded theatrical activity. Archaeological investigation confirmed the polygonal design described in historical accounts, providing physical evidence of England's first permanent playhouse.
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Common questions
Who built The Theatre in 1576 and where was it located?
James Burbage and John Brayne erected The Theatre in Shoreditch just beyond the northern boundary of the City of London. This wooden structure stood on property that had originally been the grounds of the dissolved Halliwell Priory or Holywell.
When did The Theatre open and which acting companies performed there?
The Theatre opened in the autumn of 1576 as a venue for Leicester's Men and later housed the Admiral's Men during the 1580s. The Lord Chamberlain's Men performed at The Theatre until 1597 with William Shakespeare serving as an actor and playwright within the company.
Why was The Theatre dismantled on the night of the 28th of December 1598?
The Theatre was dismantled to save the investment after landlord Giles Allen contested the lease terms and forced the Lord Chamberlain's Men to stop playing in 1597. Peter Street and workmen moved the timber structure piecemeal to reconstruct it as The Globe in the following spring.
How much did it cost to build The Theatre and what materials were used?
The Theatre is said to have cost £700 to construct using brick, sand, lime, lead, iron, and timber with a tile roof. The building featured three galleries surrounding an open yard and a polygonal design that possibly adapted from inn-yards or bear baiting pits.
When was the foundation of The Theatre discovered by archaeologists?
Archaeologists from the Museum of London announced they had found the foundation of The Theatre in August 2008 during excavations in New Inn Broadway Shoreditch. Ground plans confirm the site sits within the modern London Borough of Hackney just outside the City of London boundaries.