The archaeological remains of two Elizabethan playhouses, including the theatre in which Shakespeare's Hamlet was first performed, have been protected.
The Theatre, in Hackney, north east London, and the Hope, Bankside, central London, were the first and last playhouses of the era built in London and join the Rose and the Globe as scheduled monuments commemorating a heyday of English theatre.
Three of the five Elizabethan sites protected are former bear-baiting pits in the Bankside area.
In the 16th and 17th centuries watching dogs bait bears was popular entertainment for thousands of spectators.
Remains of playhouse where Hamlet was first performed gets protected status alongside other Elizabethan sites including three bear-baiting pits
The Theatre, a polygonal playhouse built in 1576-7, was the first in London
The Hope, in Bankside, London, was the last to be created in around 1614
Both theatres have joined Historic England's list of protected monuments
Three bear-baiting pits popular in Elizabethan era were also protected
By Matt Hunter For Mailonline
26 September 2016
The archaeological remains of two Elizabethan playhouses, including the theatre in which Shakespeare's Hamlet was first performed, have been protected.
The Theatre, in Hackney, north east London, and the Hope, Bankside, central London, were the first and last playhouses of the era built in London and join the Rose and the Globe as scheduled monuments commemorating a heyday of English theatre.
Built in 1576-7, the Theatre is the earliest-known example of a polygonal playhouse in the capital and it is thought to be the site of the first performance of both Hamlet and Christopher Marlowe's masterpiece, Dr Faustus.
An illustration of the Theatre and its surrounding area, in Hackney, north east London, which has been protected as a monument to commemorate a heyday of English theatre
Excavations being undertaken of The Theatre which is the earliest-known example of a polygonal playhouse in the capital
Three of the five Elizabethan sites protected are former bear-baiting pits in the Bankside area (stock image)
Purpose-built playhouses emerged under the reign of Elizabeth I as English drama flourished, and were permanent, timber-framed buildings with three tiers of galleries and an open yard into which extended a raised stage, built on brick foundations.
Three of the five Elizabethan sites protected are former bear-baiting pits in the Bankside area.
In the 16th and 17th centuries watching dogs bait bears was popular entertainment for thousands of spectators.
The Theatre was built by James Burbage on the junction of Curtain Road and New Inn Yard, and a number of companies, including the Lord Chamberlain's Company which included William Shakespeare, were associated with it.
Hamlet was probably first performed there in 1596, with Richard Burbage as the lead, while Faustus is thought to have first been put on at the theatre in 1592.
After money disputes, Burbage's sons dismantled the theatre in late December 1598 and moved reusable parts south of the Thames to Bankside for use in construction of their new venture, the Globe.
The Hope, in Bankside, London, was the last playhouses of the era built in the capital
The remains of the Theatre now lie beneath an office of Foxtons estate agents in Hackney.
The Hope was the last of the playhouses of the era, opening in about 1614 after Philip Henslowe and two partners entered a contract to replace 'the Bear Gardens' with a new building which would be a joint theatre and bear baiting arena.
The first play performed there was Ben Jonson's Bartholomew Fair, but animal baiting and other entertainment gradually eclipsed the plays and the acting company left the Hope in 1617.
It was ordered to close down by Parliament in 1643, but continued to operate until it was dismantled in 1656 during the rule of Oliver Cromwell.
Under the reign of Elizabeth I English drama, such as Shakespeare's, flourished
The remains of the Hope are located beneath a car park on the southern side of Riverside House on Southwark Bridge Road.
Duncan Wilson, chief executive of government heritage agency Historic England, said: 'The archaeological remains of the first and last Elizabethan playhouses to be built in London give us fleeting glimpses of a fascinating period in the history of theatre.
'They are where some of the world's greatest stories were first told and it is wonderful that they remain today, bearing witness to our fascinating past.
'Their cultural importance, particularly their connections with Shakespeare and Marlowe, means they deserve protection as part of England's precious historic fabric.'
The two theatres have been protected by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England.
The protection will be similar to that give to listed buildings - meaning planners will have to consider the sites when putting forward new homes proposals.
Meanwhile, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, five buildings in Stratford-upon-Avon have been relisted, with revised and updated entries on the National Heritage List.
They are: the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Shakespeare Monument, the Shakespeare Memorial Fountain and the Gower Monument.
The Theatre, in Hackney, north east London, and the Hope, Bankside, central London, were the first and last playhouses of the era built in London and join the Rose and the Globe as scheduled monuments commemorating a heyday of English theatre.
Three of the five Elizabethan sites protected are former bear-baiting pits in the Bankside area.
In the 16th and 17th centuries watching dogs bait bears was popular entertainment for thousands of spectators.
Remains of playhouse where Hamlet was first performed gets protected status alongside other Elizabethan sites including three bear-baiting pits
The Theatre, a polygonal playhouse built in 1576-7, was the first in London
The Hope, in Bankside, London, was the last to be created in around 1614
Both theatres have joined Historic England's list of protected monuments
Three bear-baiting pits popular in Elizabethan era were also protected
By Matt Hunter For Mailonline
26 September 2016
The archaeological remains of two Elizabethan playhouses, including the theatre in which Shakespeare's Hamlet was first performed, have been protected.
The Theatre, in Hackney, north east London, and the Hope, Bankside, central London, were the first and last playhouses of the era built in London and join the Rose and the Globe as scheduled monuments commemorating a heyday of English theatre.
Built in 1576-7, the Theatre is the earliest-known example of a polygonal playhouse in the capital and it is thought to be the site of the first performance of both Hamlet and Christopher Marlowe's masterpiece, Dr Faustus.
An illustration of the Theatre and its surrounding area, in Hackney, north east London, which has been protected as a monument to commemorate a heyday of English theatre
Excavations being undertaken of The Theatre which is the earliest-known example of a polygonal playhouse in the capital
Three of the five Elizabethan sites protected are former bear-baiting pits in the Bankside area (stock image)
Purpose-built playhouses emerged under the reign of Elizabeth I as English drama flourished, and were permanent, timber-framed buildings with three tiers of galleries and an open yard into which extended a raised stage, built on brick foundations.
Three of the five Elizabethan sites protected are former bear-baiting pits in the Bankside area.
In the 16th and 17th centuries watching dogs bait bears was popular entertainment for thousands of spectators.
The Theatre was built by James Burbage on the junction of Curtain Road and New Inn Yard, and a number of companies, including the Lord Chamberlain's Company which included William Shakespeare, were associated with it.
Hamlet was probably first performed there in 1596, with Richard Burbage as the lead, while Faustus is thought to have first been put on at the theatre in 1592.
After money disputes, Burbage's sons dismantled the theatre in late December 1598 and moved reusable parts south of the Thames to Bankside for use in construction of their new venture, the Globe.
The Hope, in Bankside, London, was the last playhouses of the era built in the capital
The remains of the Theatre now lie beneath an office of Foxtons estate agents in Hackney.
The Hope was the last of the playhouses of the era, opening in about 1614 after Philip Henslowe and two partners entered a contract to replace 'the Bear Gardens' with a new building which would be a joint theatre and bear baiting arena.
The first play performed there was Ben Jonson's Bartholomew Fair, but animal baiting and other entertainment gradually eclipsed the plays and the acting company left the Hope in 1617.
It was ordered to close down by Parliament in 1643, but continued to operate until it was dismantled in 1656 during the rule of Oliver Cromwell.
Under the reign of Elizabeth I English drama, such as Shakespeare's, flourished
The remains of the Hope are located beneath a car park on the southern side of Riverside House on Southwark Bridge Road.
Duncan Wilson, chief executive of government heritage agency Historic England, said: 'The archaeological remains of the first and last Elizabethan playhouses to be built in London give us fleeting glimpses of a fascinating period in the history of theatre.
'They are where some of the world's greatest stories were first told and it is wonderful that they remain today, bearing witness to our fascinating past.
'Their cultural importance, particularly their connections with Shakespeare and Marlowe, means they deserve protection as part of England's precious historic fabric.'
The two theatres have been protected by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England.
The protection will be similar to that give to listed buildings - meaning planners will have to consider the sites when putting forward new homes proposals.
Meanwhile, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, five buildings in Stratford-upon-Avon have been relisted, with revised and updated entries on the National Heritage List.
They are: the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Shakespeare Monument, the Shakespeare Memorial Fountain and the Gower Monument.
Last edited:
