John Heminges
Interesting information about
the life and times of John Heminges and the
Globe
Theatre of Elizabethan London, England
Short Biography of
the life of John Heminges - Elizabethan actor
The following biography information
provides basic facts about the life John Heminges:
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Nationality - English
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Lifespan - John Heminges
(1556 - 1630)
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Acting Troupes: Member of the
Chamberlain's Men and the King's Men
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Career - Actor and financial
manager of the Chamberlain's men
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Famous for : Being the joint
editor of the collection of William Shakespeare plays called the First
Folio. He was believed to have played the part of Falstaff
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He was named as one of the 26 actors who performed in the plays which were listed in William
Shakespeare's First Folio
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The First Folio
was published in 1623 and contained approximately 900 pages
containing 36 of the plays by William Shakespeare. It was entitled
"Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories & Tragedies"
The reputation of the early
Elizabethan Actors was not good and any were viewed as no better than
rogues and vagabonds - actors were not trusted. The standing of actors
improved when the purpose-built theatres were introduced and some
Elizabethan actors became the equivalent of today's superstars. An
Elizabethan ballad mentions John Heminges as follows:
The perrywigs & drumme-heads
frye like to a butter firkin
A wofull burneing did betide to many a good buffe ierkin;
Then with swolne eyes like druncken fflemminges
Distressed stood old stuttering Heminges.
Facts & History
about the life of John Heminges - Elizabethan Actor
The following are additional facts
about the life and history of John Heminges:
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John Heminges was born
in Worcestershire, England
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He was baptized on
November 25, 1566 in Droitwich, Worcestershire
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In 1578 he was
apprenticed to James Collins, a London grocer
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In March 1588 John
Heminges married Rebecca Edwards Knell, the 16-year-old widow of
William Knell
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John Heminges owned the
only house which abutted to the second Globe Theatre and it is
believed that this was used as an ale house
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He died in November 1630
Documented facts
about John Heminges - Elizabethan actor
The following documented facts related to John Heminges and his life as
an Elizabethan actor together with details of his relationship with
fellow actors including William Shakespeare.
The Lord Chamberlain's Men
were licensed as the King's Men on 19 May 1603. The document lists
"Lawrence Fletcher, William Shakespeare, Richard Burbage, Augustyne
Phillippes, Iohn Heninges, Henrie Condell, William Sly, Robert Armyn,
Richard Cowly" as members of the troupe.
On 15 March 1604 King James,
Queen Anne, and Prince Henry rode through the City of London in a royal
entry postponed from the previous summer because of the plague. An account by Sir George
Home, who was Master of the Great Wardrobe, lists the names of "Players" who
were each given four yards of red cloth apiece for the investiture of King
James in London on 15 March 1604. The actors who were named were "William Shakespeare,
Augustine Phillipps, Lawrence Fletcher, John Hemminges, Richard
Burbidge, William Slye, Robert Armyn, Henry Cundell, and Richard Cowley."
In his will, William
Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon left a bequest "to my ffellowes John
Hemynge Richard Burbage & Henry Cundell a peece to buy
them Ringes."
The cast list for Jonson's
Sejanus, performed in 1603, includes "Ric. Burbadge, Aug. Philips, Will.
Sly, Ioh. Lowin, Will. Shake-Speare, Ioh. Hemings, Hen. Condel, and
Alex. Cooke."
The 1616 Folio of Ben
Jonson's Works contained cast lists for his plays. The cast list for
Jonson's Every Man in His Humor, which was performed in 1598, includes "Will
Shakespeare, Aug. Philips, Hen. Condel, Will. Slye, Will. Kempe, Ric.
Burbadge, Ioh. Hemings, Tho. Pope, Chr. Beeston, and Ioh. Duke."
In the First Folio, John
Heminges and Henry Condell stated that they published the Folio "onely to keepe
the memory of so worthy a Friend, & Fellow alive, as was our
Shakespeare, by humble offer of his playes."
The cast list for Jonson's
Sejanus, performed in 1603, includes "Ric. Burbadge, Aug. Philips, Will.
Sly, Ioh. Lowin, Will. Shake-Speare, Ioh. Hemings, Hen. Condel, and
Alex. Cooke."
John Heminges
Interesting Facts and information
about
the History, Life & Times of
the famous Elizabethan actor, John Heminges.
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