(The Blackfriars Theatre London)
The daily feature on this blog is an 'On this day in Theatrical History' and it is time I revealed my sources for finding these historical goodies. I am using the 10th edition of the 'Who's Who in the Theatre' which was printed in 1947. I mention this only because the information it has given me seems to have been wrong. It claims that on the 6th of May 1589 William Shakespeare entered into part proprietorship of the Blackfriars Theatre. We now know this to be incorrect as many scholars refer to Shakespeare's time in the 1580s as his 'lost' years, in fact the only time Shakespeare turns up after his twins' baptisms in 1585 is in 1592 when he is referred to as a playwright in London. Sources show that in 1599 the Globe was constructed for the use of the Lord Chamberlain's men, this could have led to the confusion for the authors of 'Who's Who'. The Blackfriars Theatre was not purchased for the King's Men, Shakespeare and his partners' Theatre Company, until August 1608 when Richard Burbage took back the lease on the building from a Henry Evans. So the information provided in my sourcebook is about 20 years off but thats why I enjoy using it. It gives me the opportunity to check the dates and information provided, to educate myself and share what I have learned with all of you.
The site of the Blackfriars Theatre has had two more performance spaces built on it since the times of Shakespeare. Once as the Second Blackfriars Theatre, you can see programmes from performances there if you click on this link... here, and the second time as the Mermaid Theatre which is currently going through a rocky patch regarding its future as a theatre space. You can find more info about the Mermaid at this link here.
Also I found an interesting link to an American site in Staunton, Virginia. It is the site of the American Shakespeare Centre where they have a full size, fully functional replica theatre of the Blackfriars Playhouse. To find out more about their replica theatre and the sterling work they do in America then please click here.
Coincidentally it is Shakespeare season on the BBC right now. Have you been watching?
Click here for more information and to find out what's on.
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