Experts began unearthing one of the earliest and best-preserved theatres in Britain on Monday.
Built in 1577, the Curtain Theatre played host to Shakespeare’s earliest plays including the first performances of Henry V and early performances of Romeo and Juliet.
Archaeologists say the Elizabethan playhouse, a replica of which appeared in the 1998 film Shakespeare in Love, is tantalisingly well-preserved at two to three feet beneath ground level.
They hope it will produce a treasure trove of sixteenth-century artefacts, including original props, costumes and audience belongings.
Trial digs have already revealed the theatre’s walls stand up to five feet tall in places. Its exits and entrances are also well preserved.
On Monday, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey officially marked the beginning of the dig at the site in Shoreditch, east London, where archaeologists from MOLA excavated 10ft down.
Curtain rises on Henry V's first theatre after 400 years: Archaeologists begin unearthing site that played host to earliest performance of Shakespeare's play
Built in 1577, Curtain Theatre played host to Shakespeare’s earliest plays
Archaeologists say it is well-preserved at 2-3ft beneath ground level
Trial digs have revealed the theatre’s walls stand up to 5ft tall in places
Ed Vaizey marked beginning of the dig in Shoreditch, London, yesterday
By Tom Payne and Harry Mount for Daily Mail
26 April 2016
Experts began unearthing one of the earliest and best-preserved theatres in Britain yesterday.
Built in 1577, the Curtain Theatre played host to Shakespeare’s earliest plays including the first performances of Henry V and early performances of Romeo and Juliet.
Archaeologists say the Elizabethan playhouse, a replica of which appeared in the 1998 film Shakespeare in Love, is tantalisingly well-preserved at two to three feet beneath ground level.
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey (left) officially marked the beginning of the dig at the site in Shoreditch, east London, where archaeologists from MOLA excavated 10ft down
They hope it will produce a treasure trove of sixteenth-century artefacts, including original props, costumes and audience belongings.
Trial digs have already revealed the theatre’s walls stand up to five feet tall in places. Its exits and entrances are also well preserved.
Yesterday Culture Minister Ed Vaizey officially marked the beginning of the dig at the site in Shoreditch, east London, where archaeologists from the MOLA excavated 10ft down.
Once fully unearthed and preserved, the theatre will open to the public in 2019 as part of a new £750million development called The Stage.
The exhibition will allow the public to view the remains of the theatre alongside artefacts discovered among the ruins.
A portrait of William Shakespeare performing for Queen Elizabeth I at the Curtain Theatre, London
‘We hope to find out more about the structure of the theatre where Henry V was first performed,’ said Heather Knight, the senior archaeologist leading the dig for MOLA.
‘It will give us a clearer indication of how Elizabethan and Jacobean playhouses were used and the evolution of theatre.
'There is also the possibility of finding fragments of props, costumes or items used by the audience, which could tell us more about theatre productions and culture at the time.’
Ed Vaizey said: ‘The 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death is a fitting time to be excavating this historical site.’
Built in 1577, the Curtain Theatre played host to Shakespeare’s earliest plays including the first performances of Romeo and Juliet and Henry V. Pictured: Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1996 film Romeo and Juliet
Shoreditch is viewed as the cradle of British theatre. In 1596, City of London authorities declared that theatres had to be outside the City because of their scandalous reputation and an outbreak of the plague.
Shoreditch, on the fringe of the City, became the ideal venue. The Curtain hosted Shakespeare’s plays from 1597 to 1599 and continued to stage productions until 1624, when it was converted into tenements. Its exact location then became lost.
The Curtain was discovered only a few hundred yards from The Theatre, another playhouse from the Shakespearean period, the foundations of which were found in 2008.
The better-known Globe was built in a separate theatre district on the south bank of the Thames.
‘This is one of the most significant Shakespearean discoveries of recent years,’ a spokesman for Plough Yard Developments, which owns the site, said. ‘Although The Curtain was known to have been in the area, its exact location was a mystery.’
Read more: Archaeologists unearth Curtain Theatre that played host to early Romeo and Juliet | Daily Mail Online
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Built in 1577, the Curtain Theatre played host to Shakespeare’s earliest plays including the first performances of Henry V and early performances of Romeo and Juliet.
Archaeologists say the Elizabethan playhouse, a replica of which appeared in the 1998 film Shakespeare in Love, is tantalisingly well-preserved at two to three feet beneath ground level.
They hope it will produce a treasure trove of sixteenth-century artefacts, including original props, costumes and audience belongings.
Trial digs have already revealed the theatre’s walls stand up to five feet tall in places. Its exits and entrances are also well preserved.
On Monday, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey officially marked the beginning of the dig at the site in Shoreditch, east London, where archaeologists from MOLA excavated 10ft down.
Curtain rises on Henry V's first theatre after 400 years: Archaeologists begin unearthing site that played host to earliest performance of Shakespeare's play
Built in 1577, Curtain Theatre played host to Shakespeare’s earliest plays
Archaeologists say it is well-preserved at 2-3ft beneath ground level
Trial digs have revealed the theatre’s walls stand up to 5ft tall in places
Ed Vaizey marked beginning of the dig in Shoreditch, London, yesterday
By Tom Payne and Harry Mount for Daily Mail
26 April 2016
Experts began unearthing one of the earliest and best-preserved theatres in Britain yesterday.
Built in 1577, the Curtain Theatre played host to Shakespeare’s earliest plays including the first performances of Henry V and early performances of Romeo and Juliet.
Archaeologists say the Elizabethan playhouse, a replica of which appeared in the 1998 film Shakespeare in Love, is tantalisingly well-preserved at two to three feet beneath ground level.
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey (left) officially marked the beginning of the dig at the site in Shoreditch, east London, where archaeologists from MOLA excavated 10ft down
They hope it will produce a treasure trove of sixteenth-century artefacts, including original props, costumes and audience belongings.
Trial digs have already revealed the theatre’s walls stand up to five feet tall in places. Its exits and entrances are also well preserved.
Yesterday Culture Minister Ed Vaizey officially marked the beginning of the dig at the site in Shoreditch, east London, where archaeologists from the MOLA excavated 10ft down.
Once fully unearthed and preserved, the theatre will open to the public in 2019 as part of a new £750million development called The Stage.
The exhibition will allow the public to view the remains of the theatre alongside artefacts discovered among the ruins.
A portrait of William Shakespeare performing for Queen Elizabeth I at the Curtain Theatre, London
‘We hope to find out more about the structure of the theatre where Henry V was first performed,’ said Heather Knight, the senior archaeologist leading the dig for MOLA.
‘It will give us a clearer indication of how Elizabethan and Jacobean playhouses were used and the evolution of theatre.
'There is also the possibility of finding fragments of props, costumes or items used by the audience, which could tell us more about theatre productions and culture at the time.’
Ed Vaizey said: ‘The 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death is a fitting time to be excavating this historical site.’
Built in 1577, the Curtain Theatre played host to Shakespeare’s earliest plays including the first performances of Romeo and Juliet and Henry V. Pictured: Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1996 film Romeo and Juliet
Shoreditch is viewed as the cradle of British theatre. In 1596, City of London authorities declared that theatres had to be outside the City because of their scandalous reputation and an outbreak of the plague.
Shoreditch, on the fringe of the City, became the ideal venue. The Curtain hosted Shakespeare’s plays from 1597 to 1599 and continued to stage productions until 1624, when it was converted into tenements. Its exact location then became lost.
The Curtain was discovered only a few hundred yards from The Theatre, another playhouse from the Shakespearean period, the foundations of which were found in 2008.
The better-known Globe was built in a separate theatre district on the south bank of the Thames.
‘This is one of the most significant Shakespearean discoveries of recent years,’ a spokesman for Plough Yard Developments, which owns the site, said. ‘Although The Curtain was known to have been in the area, its exact location was a mystery.’
Read more: Archaeologists unearth Curtain Theatre that played host to early Romeo and Juliet | Daily Mail Online
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