The Impresarios
Two men who helped to shape Elizabethan theatre
Philip Henslowe c.1550 – 6 January 1616
Probably the most important theatre manager in England in this era, Henslowe made his fortune putting on plays and offering entertainment and diversions around them. He started out with money from his marriage to a wealthy widow and opened up The Rose in 1587 in Southwark. Partnering with his step-son-in-law Edward Alleyn (who was an actor), Henslowe went on to open a number of supporting businesses such as bull and bear baiting. They became so successful in this business that the pair were named Masters of the Royal Game of Bears, Bulls and Mastiff Dogs by James I.
Back in the theatre world he ran the Admiral’s
Men and was closely associated with the work of Christopher Marlowe, competing with Shakespeare’s plays and his Chamberlain’s Men. Henslowe even built The Fortune as a direct competitor to The Globe, only in North London instead of in Bankside.
Thanks to his diary, which is really more of a ledger, we have an incredible insight into his business transactions. It also records over 325 plays that he put on between 1592 and 1604, which is one of our best records of the material being performed in London at this time. James Burbage c.1530 – 2 February 1597
Burbage worked his way up in the world of plays and players from the very earliest, simplest time of having performances in the yards of inns for the general public. However, he revolutionised the business when he had The Theatre built in Shoreditch (later to be relocated to Bankside and become The Globe). It was the very first of its kind.
His background was actually in carpentry, although at an unknown age he also took up acting and joined the acting company of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. After his work with Dudley, he was the first Englishman to be granted a theatrical licence. It was a bridging moment between the old understanding of acting and the new Elizabethan theatre age.
In building The Theatre, Burbage turned to the classic Roman amphitheatre for inspiration. Such a purpose-built establishment gave actors more room to work as well as space for larger props. Even live cannons might be used in a performance. In the design of the theatre Burbage also sought counsel from Dr John Dee, the famous astronomer, occultist and alchemist, since he had an extensive architectural library to draw upon.