James Burbage
Encyclopedia
James Burbage (1531–1597) was an English
actor, theatre impresario
, and theatre builder in the English Renaissance theatre
. He built The Theatre
, the facility famous as the first permanent dedicated theatre built in England since Roman times. Burbage seems also to have been involved in the erection of the Curtain Theatre
, and, later, the Blackfriars Theatre
, built in 1596 near the old Dominican
friary.
Edmund Malone was the first person to suggest that James Burbage was connected with the Burbage family of Warwickshire
: a forged letter of the nineteenth century maintained that Burbage and William Shakespeare
were from the same county and were "almost of one town" — though there is in fact no valid evidence of this. Trained as a joiner
, Burbage took up acting and was a member of Leicester's Men
by 1572; he appears to have been a leader of that company by 1574. In 1576, Burbage partnered with his brother-in-law John Brayne (Burbage was married to Brayne's sister Ellen) to erect The Theatre.
(Burbage's brother-in-law John Brayne was also the man responsible for an earlier attempt at building a permanent theatre, the Red Lion
in Mile End
in 1567. That enterprise apparently did not survive its first year. The implication is that Burbage's experience as both actor and builder helped to make the second venture a success where the first had failed.)
Burbage and his family were settled in St. Leonard's parish in Shoreditch by 1576, with residence in Halliwell Street or Holywell Lane. Records list the baptism of a daughter, Alice (1576), and the burial of another daughter, Joan (1582). A third daughter, Helen, was buried at St. Anne's in Blackfriars (1595).
James Burbage's son Richard Burbage
became one of the most celebrated actors of his era. Cuthbert Burbage
, Richard's elder brother, followed in his father's footsteps as a theatre manager.
James Burbage was buried in Shoreditch on 2 February 1597; his widow Ellen was buried there on 8 May 1613.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actor, theatre impresario
Impresario
An impresario is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays or operas; analogous to a film producer in filmmaking, television production and an angel investor in business...
, and theatre builder in the English Renaissance theatre
English Renaissance theatre
English Renaissance theatre, also known as early modern English theatre, refers to the theatre of England, largely based in London, which occurred between the Reformation and the closure of the theatres in 1642...
. He built The Theatre
The Theatre
The Theatre was an Elizabethan playhouse located in Shoreditch , just outside the City of London. It was the second permanent theatre ever built in England, after the Red Lion, and the first successful one...
, the facility famous as the first permanent dedicated theatre built in England since Roman times. Burbage seems also to have been involved in the erection of the Curtain Theatre
Curtain Theatre
The Curtain Theatre was an Elizabethan playhouse located in Curtain Close, Shoreditch , just outside the City of London. It opened in 1577, and continued staging plays until 1622....
, and, later, the Blackfriars Theatre
Blackfriars Theatre
Blackfriars Theatre was the name of a theatre in the Blackfriars district of the City of London during the Renaissance. The theatre began as a venue for child actors associated with the Queen's chapel choirs; in this function, the theatre hosted some of the most innovative drama of Elizabeth and...
, built in 1596 near the old Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
friary.
Edmund Malone was the first person to suggest that James Burbage was connected with the Burbage family of Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
: a forged letter of the nineteenth century maintained that Burbage and William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
were from the same county and were "almost of one town" — though there is in fact no valid evidence of this. Trained as a joiner
Joiner
A joiner differs from a carpenter in that joiners cut and fit joints in wood that do not use nails. Joiners usually work in a workshop since the formation of various joints generally requires non-portable machinery. A carpenter normally works on site...
, Burbage took up acting and was a member of Leicester's Men
Leicester's Men
The Earl of Leicester's Men was a playing company or troupe of actors in English Renaissance theatre, active mainly in the 1570s and 1580s in the reign of Elizabeth I...
by 1572; he appears to have been a leader of that company by 1574. In 1576, Burbage partnered with his brother-in-law John Brayne (Burbage was married to Brayne's sister Ellen) to erect The Theatre.
(Burbage's brother-in-law John Brayne was also the man responsible for an earlier attempt at building a permanent theatre, the Red Lion
Red Lion (theatre)
The Red Lion was an Elizabethan playhouse located in Whitechapel , just outside the City of London...
in Mile End
Mile End
Mile End is an area within the East End of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross...
in 1567. That enterprise apparently did not survive its first year. The implication is that Burbage's experience as both actor and builder helped to make the second venture a success where the first had failed.)
Burbage and his family were settled in St. Leonard's parish in Shoreditch by 1576, with residence in Halliwell Street or Holywell Lane. Records list the baptism of a daughter, Alice (1576), and the burial of another daughter, Joan (1582). A third daughter, Helen, was buried at St. Anne's in Blackfriars (1595).
James Burbage's son Richard Burbage
Richard Burbage
Richard Burbage was an English actor and theatre owner. He was the younger brother of Cuthbert Burbage. They were both actors in drama....
became one of the most celebrated actors of his era. Cuthbert Burbage
Cuthbert Burbage
Cuthbert Burbage was an English theatrical figure, son of impresario James Burbage and elder brother of famous actor Richard Burbage...
, Richard's elder brother, followed in his father's footsteps as a theatre manager.
James Burbage was buried in Shoreditch on 2 February 1597; his widow Ellen was buried there on 8 May 1613.
External links
- "Revealed: 'Wickedness and vice' where Shakespeare became a hit" David Keys, The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, 4 August 2010