BLACKFRIARS THEATRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 86, 13 April 1939, Page 6

BLACKFRIARS THEATRE.

A chancery suit of 1012, in the public record office, furnishes some interesting details concerning theatrical matters in the time of Shakespeare. The suit was brought against Richard Burbidge, John Hemmings and others, in respect of the lease of Blackfriars Theatre, which the said Burbidge, by deed dated September 2, 1542. demised to Henry Evans, "whoe intended them presentJye to erect or sett vp a Companye of boys . or others to playe playes and interludes }n the said playhowse in such sort as before tyme has been there vsed," By reason of the plague in anno 1 James I. Evans "grew wearye" of the playhouse, and desired to give up his interest in it. He surrendered the lease in August, anno (5, following. The complainant, in his publication, states that "duringe such time as the said defendantes Heminges arid Burbidge and theire Companye contynewed playes and interludes in the said great Hall in the ffryers . , . they gott, and as yet dothe, more in one Winter in the said great Hall by a thousand powndes than they were vsed to gett in the Banckside"; also, that Evans "was centsured by the Eight Honourable Court of Starr Chamber for his vnorderlie carriage and behauiour in taking vp of gentlemens children against theire wills, and to vmploy them for players."