LONDON'S FIRST THEATRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 30 November 1933, Page 10

LONDON'S FIRST THEATRE

There was li »<•<-. ufibrliy afl*— tlu-fin-t IliWitre was opened in ‘.Joi.-doh'j when tin} opposition ‘to the new form of cntertfiimiiciii was so great that Parliament ' parsed an order for the compulsory closing of the “palaeek of amusement,” arid rendering it a crime to he present as a spectator at it play. That was in idl'd. when only two theatres existed in Loudon. The. first building specially erected for "drama tic purposes was built , by an actor, ,lames Burbage, at Shoreditch, in 1571!.

It, was called ‘‘T-lc* Theatre.” A year or sd later a sceoml theatre, known its “Tho <‘nrteli,,’’ was opened, also at Shorcdit"!i. • These two playhouses catered to London audiences until the suppression of the theatres. When plays wen*- once .permitted there appeared- several new theatres, including “The t*lobe” at Southwark, which was built hV James Burbage, “The Bose,” and the “Black f riars” and “The Fortune,” built by Edward Alleyn, an actor, in I odd, so christened because it cost its owner the then fabulous sum, including the ground, of Cl.ddO!

The. only illumination during the performance was that afforded by candlelight, gas being unknown until 1817, when the best performance liy gaslight was at Drury Lane.