Interesting information and
biography of James Burbage an important man in the life and times of William Shakespeare and the Globe
Theatre of Elizabethan London, England The influence of
James Burbage on the English theatre of the Elizabethan era
Biography of James Burbage
(1531-1597)
James Burbage was an
Elizabethan entrepreneur. He realised considerable profit by
staging plays at Elizabethan Inn-yards and had the vision to
build the original 'Theatre' and later the 'Globe' Theatre.
James Burbage was born in 1531 and is said that he was born
at Stratford-upon-Avon - the same birthplace as William
Shakespeare.
Biography of James Burbage
(1531-1597)
The biography of James
Burbage details the life of the man who was was at the forefront
of the Elizabethan commercial theatre and played
an important part in the history of the Globe Theatre and
William Shakespeare. James
Burbage started his career as a joiner and was experienced in
carpentry. At some point in his career he changed to acting -
an extremely unusual choice as in the early Elizabethan era
actors were viewed as nothing better than rogues and
vagabonds. Licenses were granted to
the aristocracy for the maintenance of troupes of players, who
might at any time be required to show their credentials. James Burbage became a
member of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester's players - an
acting troupe referred to as Leicester's Men which was
established in 1572. James Burbage became the head of this
acting troupe. In 1574, James Burbage became the first
Englishman to obtain a theatrical license - he had become very
serious about his role as a theatrical entrepreneur and
manager.
James Burbage and The Theatre
James Burbage built the
very first theatre with his brother-in-law John Brayne, appropriately
named 'The Theatre'. The original meaning of the word “theatre” referred
to the
platforms used for the temporary stages erected in Elizabethan inn-yards. James
Burbage borrowed 1000 marks (£666. 13s. 4d.) from his father-in-law, John Brayne, with which to build his
theatre. It was built in 1576 on land
which was leased from Giles Allen who was a staunch puritan. Giles Allen was
opposed to all theatrical activities on the land but was unable to stop James Burbage from building 'The Theatre' on the site.
James Burbage and Dr John Dee
(1527-1608)
James
Burbage was intent on making money from his idea to build a theatre. He
also wanted to 'legitimise' the reputation of actors and their plays. He
knew that if he could use the design of classical Greek and Roman
architecture that people would wonder at the building and also associate
it with the acceptable, classical plays. James Burbage had a head start
on the building of the Globe Theatre from his experience as a carpenter.
But he need the knowledge of classical and Greek Architecture. The man
who could help him was John Dee. John Dee was a brilliant scholar.
Interested in Mathematics, physics and astrology which he studied at
Cambridge and in Europe. The Elizabethan era was the age of the
Renaissance and new thinking and ideas. John Dee was well travelled and
was obsessive about collecting books and manuscripts. He collected so
many books that he created the greatest personal library in England,
which he housed at his mother's residence at Mortlake. John Dee and his
extensive library attracted visits from the foremost scholars in England
and James Burbage. James Burbage
consulted Dr. John Dee on the design and construction of The Theatre. The
notorious Dr. John Dee, renowned as a magician and alchemist, was also
extremely knowledgeable about architecture. James Burbage relied on John Dee's
extensive architectural library to design the plans for the construction
of The Theatre.
James Burbage and The Theatre
The reputation of Elizabethan theatres
was extremely bad. Theatres not only acted as a venue for plays but also
supported gambling and blood sports. Plays attracted hundreds of people
who unfortunately included undesirables, including thieves, harlots and
pickpockets. Not surprisingly there were disturbances and fights. James
Burbage was in the Theatre business with his two sons
Cuthbert Burbage and Richard Burbage. The main rivals
of James Burbage was Philip Henslow, who built the Rose and
Fortune theatres which were used by the acting troupe called
the Admiral’s Men.
After the death of James Burbage the lease
of 'The Theatre' expired and Puritan Giles Allen stubbornly refused to renew the lease.
A clause was found in the lease which allowed
the Burbage's to dismantle the
building on the site and use any materials which
were recovered. Richard and Cuthbert Burbage
with their troupe, including William
Shakespeare, some labourers and carpenters all went to the Theatre under
cover of night and demolished the Theatre.
They used the timber in the construction of the
Globe Theatre on Bankside, Southwark.
James Burbage Biography - the
Blackfriars Theatre
The
Blackfriars Theatre was a disused Dominican priory which had been
confiscated in 1538 when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries. The
Blackfriars indoor playhouse was originally established as a theatre in
1576 for the children of the Chapel Royal. In 1596 James Burbage
purchased the property. He immediately began to convert it into an
indoor hall playhouse for the Lord Chamberlain’s Men - a good venue for
winter productions. But following local opposition, it was re-leased to
a company of boy players, bringing an abrupt halt to the plans of James
Burbage for the Blackfriars Theatre.
The Death of James Burbage
James
Burbage died in the bitterly cold winter of 1597. The Theatre was
just a few hundred yards from St Leonards Church ( the actor's church ) in Holywell Street,
Shoreditch. It is in the church grounds that James Burbage along with
other actors of note from the era are buried.
Globe Theatre Construction Interesting Facts and information
and biography of James Burbage.
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Elizabethan and Globe Theatre can be accessed via the Globe Theatre Sitemap.
Globe Theatre Construction
Interesting
biography about James Burbage
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Facts and information about James Burbage and John Dee
The influence of
James Burbage on the English theatre
