The History of 'The Theatre'

"The Theatre"

The earliest purpose-built public London theatre known to Shakespeare

In 1576 the theatrical entrepreneur James Burbage constructed “The Theatre” in Shoreditch at what is now the junction of Curtain Road and New Inn Yard.From 1594 to 1597 it was the home of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men of whom Shakespeare was a member, and it was here that he first honed his skills as an actor and playwright. Romeo and Juliet was almost certainly premiered here. In 1598 the Burbages had a major falling-out with their landlord and the wooden structure was dismantled and whisked across the River Thames to re-emerge as the famous "Globe" in which Shakespeare was a shareholder.

London's first theatres

Until recently the exact location of “The Theatre” was uncertain but in June 2008 archaeologists from the Museum of London and English Heritage found evidence of its foundations in a little side street just off Curtain Road, a short distance north of Liverpool Street Station.

The Museum of London have excavated the majority of the site. As none of the buildings on the site has ever had a basement, there are well-preserved remains of the floors and foundations. At the lowest level, a 16th century wall and post foundation have been revealed which are almost certainly are one corner of "The Theatre".

Overview of the excavations