Building    From 1577  To 1642

Curtain Theatre

Categories: Theatre

This, the second English purpose-built playhouse was erected very close to the first, The Theatre, and run by the same man, Burbage.  Not named for the modern drape on a proscenium arch, but for its proximity to Curtain Close, a place named itself after the nearby London Wall. Long plain sections of wall are still known to those in the know as "curtain walls".

Here, in this "wooden O", Shakespeare performed and Henry V was staged. Ceased operating somewhere between 1622 and the Civil War, 1642. In 2008, the Museum of London unearthed the footings of the Theatre and a new theatre is set to be built on the site.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Curtain Theatre

Commemorated ati

Curtain Theatre - Curtain Road

On this site stood The Curtain Theatre (1577 - 1599) William Shakespeare firs...

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Curtain Theatre - Hewett Street

Near this site stood The Curtain Theatre, 1577 - c.1627, second English publi...

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Other Subjects

Mercury Theatre

Mercury Theatre

Founded by Ashley Dukes as a new stage for plays by poets. The plaque gives 1931 as the start date, but Wikipedia gives 1933. Possibly for those first 3 years it was a home for the Ballet Club an...

Group, Theatre

1 memorial
Theatre Royal Marylebone

Theatre Royal Marylebone

Opened as the Royal Pavilion West and subjected to many name changes over the years, including: Royal West London Theatre, Marylebone Theatre, West London Theatre.  Converted to a cinema in 1932.  ...

Building, Cinema, Theatre

1 memorial
Pollock's toy theatre shop

Pollock's toy theatre shop

This was started by John Redington, selling printed sheets of characters and scenery for toy theatres. He ran it until his death when his family took over. 1877 his daughter Eliza married Benjamin ...

Building, Children, Commerce, Theatre

1 memorial
Fanny Kemble

Fanny Kemble

Actress. Born Newman Street. 1830 a witness at the death of Huskisson. 1832 travelled to America with her father and wrote about her experiences there. Married an American who inherited a fortune i...

Person, Literature, Race Issues, Theatre, USA

1 memorial
William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

Born and died in Stratford-upon-Avon. His birth date is usually given as the 23rd, the same date as his death, but all that is actually known is that he was baptised 3 days later, on the 26th. Even...

Person, Poetry, Seriously Famous, Theatre

45 memorials