8-1TheatreExcavation

 What has been found at the recent excavation of The Theatre? What other theatres from Shakespeare’s time have been excavated? What have we learned from these excavations? //Answer Prepared by Gabby P.// “Archaeologists believe they have unearthed the remains of Shakespeare's first theatre, the BBC has learned,” reports by BBC News and London Museum's Taryn Nixon. On Monday, March 9th, 2009, what is believed to be Shakespeare’s first theatre. When the Theatre was uncovered, news on this colossal excavation swept the nation. The Theatre was discovered when there was work being done on the new building by the Tower Theatre Company that excavations uncovered the base of the building. The Theatre site was found about five feet below the surface. When this occurred, the Archaeologists from the Museum of London were called down to examine the site and they finally revealed and figured out that this site must have been Shakespeare’s four hundred year lost theatre. Jo Lyon, senior archaeologist at the museum, states that "As well as allowing us to walk in the footsteps of Shakespeare himself, the remains help us to start uncovering one of London's enduring secrets."

The Theatre was the direct forerunner of the Globe. Young Shakespeare rehearsed and performed there as an actor in the Chamberlain's Men company of players. When the youthful William turned to writing, it was at this theatre, The Theatre that it is believed Shakespeare’s first works such as __A Midsummer Night's Dream__ and even an early draft of __Hamlet__, one of the most famous plays in the English Language, no doubt were written here according to Amanda Mabillard in the article “Shakespeare’s Theatres: The Rose” from the website //Shakespeare Online.// A dispute however, caused the open air playhouse that was opened in 1576 to be torn apart after about 20 years of being built and taken across the Thames to build the direct forerunner, The Globe, the best theatre known for its Shakespearean associations. Along with The Theatre, The Rose, a Theatre during Shakespeare’s time built by Philip Henslowe in 1587, is about seventy percent excavated so far. The Rose was built above an old rose garden near the south shore and bank side of the Thames in Surrey. This magnificent theatre was round and elegant, composed of brick and timber, and easily accessible. These aspects made it more classy and sophisticated than the Theatre. After 1592, the Rose became very popular. However, in 1593, the plague of 1953 caused the Rose to shut down for a little while. Although it may have shut down for a little due to the plague, many acting companies performed on the stage of this theatre and the Rose was successful for numerous years. In fact, The Rose did so well that others wished to share in the success Henslowe was experiencing, resulting in new theatres were built beside the Rose. This factor contributed to its termination and closing of the theatre. Henslowe kept the Rose and the land it was on however, and after a few years Henslowe gave it up because of his rents almost tripling and his suffering of financial dues because of the competition theatres. From these excavations, we have learned and gained a very strong knowledge base about Shakespeare’s era and events that existed back then. We have acquired more information and facts and have continued our search and quest for discovering the long, long past.