Man behind Rose Theatre finds own ancestor in Shakespeare’s First Folio
THE MAN behind the building of the region’s answer to The Globe Theatre came face to face with a rare Shakespeare First Folio yesterday – which has one of his own ancestors on the title page.
James Cundall, CEO of theatre production company Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, which is building the Rose Theatre next to Clifford’s Tower in York, leafed through the Folio, which bears the name of Henry Condell, at Skipton’s Craven Museum.
A friend of Shakespeare, Condell, along with John Heminge, performed in the troupe The King’s Men, and they were partners in the Globe Theatre some four centuries ago.
After Shakespeare’s death they published the First Folio of his complete works – 36 plays which they divided into comedies, tragedies and histories – “to keepe the memory of so worthy a Friend, & Fellow alive.”
Building begins of Europe’s first ever pop-up Shakespearean theatre next Monday, with the first performance on June 25.
Mr Cundall said: “To be allowed to handle a First Folio that would have been handled by my ancestor was both humbling and an immense privilege.
“I’m sure Henry Condell would be fascinated by Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre that we are creating in York this summer, and would totally recognise the performance space as being the same that he and Shakespeare created at the Globe.”