Actors and Theatre Companies

The life of an actor has always been a precarious one, but never more so than in Shakespeare’s day. Actors needed the patronage of a wealthy nobleman as, due to an act of parliament in 1572, strolling players without protection were in danger of being labeled a vagabond and arrested. Companies were therefore established under the protected patronage of a monarch or a wealthy nobleman and most were based in London, although they frequently toured the provinces. Although women appeared on stage elsewhere in Europe, the English acting profession was only open to boys and men (women did not appear on the public stage until 1660). The younger members of the company would be called upon to play the youthful female roles, such as Desdemona, Juliet, or Ophelia. Actors would often embark on their theatrical career in their youth, joining a company as an apprentice to learn the trade from a more experienced actor. And there was a lot to learn! Not only did actors need to be able to memorize their lines quickly, they were also expected to be able to sing, dance, fence, and play musical instruments.

This guide will look at the typical routine of an actor during Shakespeare’s era and the prominent acting companies and actors that dominated the theatrical landscape. Finally, it looks at the relationship between the actor and the playwright during the English renaissance.

Key Dates & Events

• c.1560 - c. 1603 - Lifetime of William Kempe.
• 1566 - 1626 - Lifetime of Edward Alleyn, actor and son-in-law of theatre owner, Philip Henslowe.
• c. 1567 - 1619 - Lifetime of Richard Burbage, one of the most popular actors amongst London’s audiences.
• c. 1568 - 1615 - Lifetime of the comic actor, Robert Armin.
• 1576 - The Theatre was established in Shoreditch by James Burbage, a leading actor with the Earl of Leicester's Men.
• 1587 - The Rose Theatre was built on the south bank of the River Thames by businessman, Philip Henslowe.
• 1593 - London’s theatres were closed during a severe wave of plague which killed around 10,000 of London’s residents.
• 1597 - James Burbage died.
• 1599 - The first Globe Theatre opened and was a huge success.
• 1599 - The first of Shakespeare’s plays to be performed at the Globe Theatre was believed to have been Julius Caesar.
• 1602 - The Swan Theatre was damaged by audience members unhappy with the standard of the play that day.
• 1613 - The first Globe Theatre burned down on June 29th during a performance of Henry VIII.
• 1642 - The Second Globe Theatre was shut down by the Puritans, along with the rest of London’s playhouses.