8-1LordChamberlainsMen

Elizabethan drama originated from medieval biblical stories acted out by traveling friars or priests whose purpose was to teach Christianity to the faithful. According to Denise Dersin, author of the book __What Life Was Like in the Realm of Elizabeth: England AD 1533-1603__, when Queen Elizabeth came to power in 1533 local craft guilds were performing these religious dramas as well as plays about morality and mystery. They used movable outdoor stages often setting up at county fairs or in the courtyards of popular inns. Early in her reign Queen Elizabeth made Anglicanism (a form of Protestantism) the national religion in England. Fearing that religious plays would turn the English Catholics away from the Anglican Church, Queen Elizabeth proclaimed in 1559 that all plays needed to be licensed by the crown. During the 1570’s she banned all mystery plays and many religious plays. This created a huge change in drama as it shifted away from religion. In 1574 Queen Elizabeth placed her Master of Revels in charge of dealing with all plays performed in England. The Master of Revels was an officer of the state who worked for his superior the Lord Chamberlain, the chief officer of the royal household. The Master of Revels had the authority to censor all plays. He could ban entire plays or forbid parts of plays that he thought might offend the queen or be critical of the Anglican Church. In 1572 Queen Elizabeth passed a law called the Vagrancy Act which classified all strolling actors as vagabonds and forced them to stop performing without a license. This eventually led to the formation of large London-based theatre companies owned by “patrons,” people who offered financial support. According to John A. Wagner, author of the book __Historical Dictionary of the Elizabethan World: Britain, Ireland, Europe, and America,__ the Lord Chamberlain’s Men was one such theatre company. This company under the patronage of Lord Hunsdon, the Lord Chamberlain of England became one of the most prominent theatre companies in London. Many historians agree that William
 * 29. Who were the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later called the King’s Men? What was Shakespeare’s role in the Lord Chamberlain’s/King’s Men? **
 * // Answered by Peter Ruvalcaba //**

Shakespeare joining the Lord Chamberlain’s Men was the single most important reason for the company’s success. With William Shakespeare as principle playwright and actor, other members included Richard Burbage, William Kempe, George Bryan, Thomas Pope, Augustine Phillips, Henry Condell, and John Heminges. From 1594 until 1599 the Lord Chamberlain’s Men performed at The Theatre owned by James Burbage, the father of actor Richard Burbage. In 1599 the company relocated to nearby Southwark and performed at the Globe Theatre which was built by brothers Cuthbert and Richard Burbage. As explained by Sonia Benson, author of the book __Elizabethan World Almanac__, the members of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men formed a partnership with both profits from the performances and expenses shared. The company usually comprised a core group of between six and eight of these partners also called “sharers,” and a number of hired men and boys who performed in minor roles. The Lord Chamberlain’s Men performed works written by William Shakespeare such as “The Comedy of Errors,” “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” “Othello,” “The Merchant of Venice” as well as works by Jonson, Dekker, Beaumont, and Fletcher. Queen Elizabeth was a great fan of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and commissioned the group to perform at her court thirty-two times between 1594 and 1603. After the queen’s death in 1603, King James VI of Scotland took power becoming James I of England. The theatre company continued to receive royal support and was renamed the King’s Men. By Shakespeare’s death in 1616 the company had grown to include 26 permanent members, and was considered the most talented theatre group in Renaissance England.