Queen's Men
Encyclopedia
The Queen's Men was an Elizabethan playing company
that operated between 1583 and 1595. It was a popular company and its patron
was Queen Elizabeth I
. Among its actors was the famous clown Richard Tarlton
.
The Queen's Men appear to have been formed at the request of Francis Walsingham
partially in order to regularize the London acting companies (Chambers, 2.104-5); it is also possible that the court wished to protect the most successful players from the hostility of city officials (Gurr, 32).
The actors for the Queen's Men were drawn from already-existing companies such as the Earl of Leicester
's Men. They included, in addition to Tarleton, Robert Wilson and John Laneham (both from Leicester's Men), as well as John Dutton, John Bentley, and John Singer.
In 2006 there was a Shakespeare and the Queen's Men theatre project at the University of Toronto
, with an accompanying conference, publications, and performance. The Performing the Queen's Men website was launched in 2008. It includes videos from SQM productions of King Leir, Famous Victories and Friar Bacon & Friar Bungay; interviews with actors; information about the history of the Queen's Men; and articles about the research-creation process.
Playing company
In Renaissance London, playing company was the usual term for a company of actors. These companies were organized around a group of ten or so shareholders , who performed in the plays but were also responsible for management. The sharers employed "hired men" — that is, the minor actors and...
that operated between 1583 and 1595. It was a popular company and its patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
was Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. Among its actors was the famous clown Richard Tarlton
Richard Tarlton
Richard Tarlton , an English actor, was the most famous clown of his era.His birthplace is unknown, but reports of over a century later give it as Condover in Shropshire, with a later move to Ilford in Essex...
.
The Queen's Men appear to have been formed at the request of Francis Walsingham
Francis Walsingham
Sir Francis Walsingham was Principal Secretary to Elizabeth I of England from 1573 until 1590, and is popularly remembered as her "spymaster". Walsingham is frequently cited as one of the earliest practitioners of modern intelligence methods both for espionage and for domestic security...
partially in order to regularize the London acting companies (Chambers, 2.104-5); it is also possible that the court wished to protect the most successful players from the hostility of city officials (Gurr, 32).
The actors for the Queen's Men were drawn from already-existing companies such as the Earl of Leicester
Earl of Leicester
The title Earl of Leicester was created in the 12th century in the Peerage of England , and is currently a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, created in 1837.-Early creations:...
's Men. They included, in addition to Tarleton, Robert Wilson and John Laneham (both from Leicester's Men), as well as John Dutton, John Bentley, and John Singer.
In 2006 there was a Shakespeare and the Queen's Men theatre project at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, with an accompanying conference, publications, and performance. The Performing the Queen's Men website was launched in 2008. It includes videos from SQM productions of King Leir, Famous Victories and Friar Bacon & Friar Bungay; interviews with actors; information about the history of the Queen's Men; and articles about the research-creation process.