Shakespeare s London

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Marybeth Reeves
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1 Shakespeare s London

6 On 21 September 1599 a Swiss tourist, Thomas Platter, visiting London, went to the newly-opened Globe Theatre to see a play. As it happened, he saw Shakespeare s Julius Caesar. The occasion made quite an impression on him, so much so that he wrote a long description. This is a translation. On September 21st after lunch, about two o clock, I and my party crossed the water, and there in the house with the thatched roof witnessed an excellent performance of the tragedy of the first Emperor Julius Caesar, with a cast of some fifteen people; when the play was over they danced very marvellously and gracefully together as is their wont, two dressed as men and two as women Thus daily at two in the afternoon, London has sometimes three plays running in different places, competing with each other, and those which play best obtain most spectators. The playhouses are so constructed that they play on a raised platform, so that everyone has a good view. There are different galleries and places, however, where the seating is better and more comfortable and therefore more expensive. For whoever cares to stand below only pays one English penny, but if he wishes to sit he enters by another door, and pays another penny, while if he desires to sit in the most comfortable seats which are cushioned, where he not only sees everything well, but can also be seen, then he pays yet another English penny at another door. And during the performance food and drink are carried round the audience, so that for what one cares to pay one may also have refreshment. The actors are most expensively costumed for it is the English usage for eminent Lords or Knights at their decease to bequeath and leave almost the best of their clothes to their serving men, which it is unseemly for the latter to wear, so that they offer them for sale for a small sum of money to the actors.

8 The Elizabethan Theatre History and Timeline 1564 April 23 William Shakespeare was born 1576 James Burbage (father of the actor, Richard Burbage) obtains lease and permission to build 'The Theatre' in Shoreditch, London. The Lord Chamberlain's Men use it from 1594 to Another open air amphitheatre called The Curtain opens in Finsbury Fields, Shoreditch, London 1587 Open air amphitheatre The Rose, Bankside, Surrey is opened 1593 Theatres close due to the Bubonic Plague (The Black Death) 1594 The Lord Chamberlain's Company (formally known as 'Lord Stranges Men') was formed March 15, First document mentioning Shakespeare connected with the Theatre 1596 From 1596 to 1597 London's authorities banned the public presentation of plays within the city limits of London 1596 James Burbage purchases Blackfriars and converts it to a theatre. Unable to get permission to open as a theatre it stands empty 1597 Dispute over the lease of 'the Theatre'. The Puritan owner, Giles Allen. disapproved of the Theatre and the acting troupe. Burbage opens negotiations to re-new the lease of the 'Theatre'

9 1597 Shakespeare's company of actors moved to the Curtain Theatre after failed negotiations for a new lease for the 'Theatre' 1598 Christmas - Timber from the 'Theatre' taken to use for the building of a new theatre to be called the Globe 1599 The Globe Theatre is opened on Bankside 1600 Richard Burbage is forced to lease out Blackfriars. 24 March 1603 Elizabeth I dies, James I becomes king The Bubonic Plague (The Black Death) again ravages London killing 33,000 people - all theatres close 25 th July 1603 James I crowned 4 5 November 1605 The Gunpowder Plot is discovered 1613 June 29, Fire at the Globe Theatre 1614 Globe Theatre was rebuilt on original foundations, this time the roof is tiled, not thatched 1616 April 25, Burial of William Shakespeare in the chancel of Holy Trinity Church in Stratford John Heminges and Henry Condell, two friends and fellow actors of Shakespeare, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of his dramatic works that included all but two of the plays now recognised as Shakespeare's.

In 1687, a Henry Kipling of Chester-le-Street was named in a diocesan document, probably a bond, yet to be translated.

In 1687, a Henry Kipling of Chester-le-Street was named in a diocesan document, probably a bond, yet to be translated. The Kiplings of Wearmouth What is today known as Sunderland was once the parishes of Monkwearmouth on the north bank of the river and Bishopwearmouth on the South. Nearby were the parishes of Haughton-le-Spring