Cuthbert Burbage
Encyclopedia
Cuthbert Burbage was an English
theatrical figure, son of impresario
James Burbage
and elder brother of famous actor Richard Burbage
. Most famous for his central role in the construction of the Globe Theatre
, he was for four decades a significant agent in the success and endurance of Shakespeare's company, the King's Men
.
. His father bound him as servant to Walter Cope, gentleman usher
to Burghley
. As an adult, he joined the family business, then centered at The Theatre
in Shoreditch
. In 1586, his father's erstwhile partner John Brayne died, leading to a complex legal battle over Brayne's share in the Theatre. Brayne's widow wanted her share, as did John Hyde, a wealthy grocer
who owned the mortgage on the theater. In 1589, Cuthbert settled this issue by paying Hyde for the mortgage (with it he offered a letter from Cope promising that Cope would help Hyde if need arose.) This move, an attempt to cut Brayne's widow out of her legacy, led first to a chancery
suit and then to physical confrontation. Margaret Brayne and an associate, Robert Myles, visited Burbage's house, only to be threatened and driven away. They visited the Theatre, where a teenaged Richard Burbage allegedly beat Myles with a broom handle. The widow died in 1593, the case still unsettled. Myles later attempted to reach a compromise which would have made him a partner with Cuthbert; however, he desisted by 1597.
a new home after the lease of the Theatre expired. When James died, there were two months left on the 21 year lease he had taken on the land under the Theater. This lease passed to Cuthbert, who fought to get it renewed by the owner of the land, Giles Alleyn. James Burbage's attempt to bring his company to the Blackfriars Theatre
had been stymied by opposition from Blackfriars' wealthy residents; Burbage and company were faced with an imminent crisis.
After a last futile attempt to renew the lease, Burbage took action. The lease gave him the right to use the framing timber of the Theatre, if he did so before the expiration of the lease. When he did not do so, Alleyn announced his intention to use the timber for his own purposes. Looking for a place for his new Theater, he made a verbal agreement with Nicolas Brend for lease on a stretch of land on Maid Lane in Bankside
, near Philip Henslowe
's Rose Theatre
. Burbage hired Peter Streete to take down the old Theatre and to build the new one from as much of the salvaged material as possible. On the night of 28 December 1598, Cuthbert, Richard, a certain William Smith "of Waltham Cross, in the County of Hartford, gentleman", Streete, and twelve others took down the Theater, carried all the wood and timber across the River Thames
. This new theatre was the Globe, which had opened by September 1599. (The Chamberlain's Men, in the interim, appear to have performed at the Curtain Theatre
in Shoreditch).
The Globe provided a stable home for the Chamberlain's Men and its successor, the King's Men, for the next four decades. As significant, Cuthbert and his brother had financed the new venue by making five actors (William Shakespeare
, John Heminges
, Augustine Phillips
, Thomas Pope
, and William Kempe
) as a group, half-sharers in the profits of the house: this arrangement seems to have solidified the structure of the group, helping cement the position of the Chamberlain's Men as the preeminent troupe in London.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
theatrical figure, son of impresario
Impresario
An impresario is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays or operas; analogous to a film producer in filmmaking, television production and an angel investor in business...
James Burbage
James Burbage
James Burbage was an English actor, theatre impresario, and theatre builder in the English Renaissance theatre. He built The Theatre, the facility famous as the first permanent dedicated theatre built in England since Roman times...
and elder brother of famous actor Richard Burbage
Richard Burbage
Richard Burbage was an English actor and theatre owner. He was the younger brother of Cuthbert Burbage. They were both actors in drama....
. Most famous for his central role in the construction of the Globe Theatre
Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613...
, he was for four decades a significant agent in the success and endurance of Shakespeare's company, the King's Men
King's Men (playing company)
The King's Men was the company of actors to which William Shakespeare belonged through most of his career. Formerly known as The Lord Chamberlain's Men during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, it became The King's Men in 1603 when King James ascended the throne and became the company's patron.The...
.
Growth to adulthood
Burbage was born in Coleman Street near Guildhall, LondonGuildhall, London
The Guildhall is a building in the City of London, off Gresham and Basinghall streets, in the wards of Bassishaw and Cheap. It has been used as a town hall for several hundred years, and is still the ceremonial and administrative centre of the City of London and its Corporation...
. His father bound him as servant to Walter Cope, gentleman usher
Gentleman Usher
Gentleman Usher is a title for some officers of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. See List of Gentlemen Ushers for a list of office-holders.-Historical:...
to Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572...
. As an adult, he joined the family business, then centered at The Theatre
The Theatre
The Theatre was an Elizabethan playhouse located in Shoreditch , just outside the City of London. It was the second permanent theatre ever built in England, after the Red Lion, and the first successful one...
in Shoreditch
Shoreditch
Shoreditch is an area of London within the London Borough of Hackney in England. It is a built-up part of the inner city immediately to the north of the City of London, located east-northeast of Charing Cross.-Etymology:...
. In 1586, his father's erstwhile partner John Brayne died, leading to a complex legal battle over Brayne's share in the Theatre. Brayne's widow wanted her share, as did John Hyde, a wealthy grocer
Worshipful Company of Grocers
The Worshipful Company of Grocers is one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London. It is ranked second in the order of precedence of the Companies and, having been established in 1345, is one of the original Great Twelve City Livery Companies....
who owned the mortgage on the theater. In 1589, Cuthbert settled this issue by paying Hyde for the mortgage (with it he offered a letter from Cope promising that Cope would help Hyde if need arose.) This move, an attempt to cut Brayne's widow out of her legacy, led first to a chancery
Court of Chancery
The Court of Chancery was a court of equity in England and Wales that followed a set of loose rules to avoid the slow pace of change and possible harshness of the common law. The Chancery had jurisdiction over all matters of equity, including trusts, land law, the administration of the estates of...
suit and then to physical confrontation. Margaret Brayne and an associate, Robert Myles, visited Burbage's house, only to be threatened and driven away. They visited the Theatre, where a teenaged Richard Burbage allegedly beat Myles with a broom handle. The widow died in 1593, the case still unsettled. Myles later attempted to reach a compromise which would have made him a partner with Cuthbert; however, he desisted by 1597.
Lord Chamberlain's Men
Cuthbert was also left to execute the more serious matter of finding the Lord Chamberlain's MenLord Chamberlain's Men
The Lord Chamberlain's Men was a playing company for whom Shakespeare worked for most of his career. Formed at the end of a period of flux in the theatrical world of London, it had become, by 1603, one of the two leading companies of the city and was subsequently patronised by James I.It was...
a new home after the lease of the Theatre expired. When James died, there were two months left on the 21 year lease he had taken on the land under the Theater. This lease passed to Cuthbert, who fought to get it renewed by the owner of the land, Giles Alleyn. James Burbage's attempt to bring his company to the Blackfriars Theatre
Blackfriars Theatre
Blackfriars Theatre was the name of a theatre in the Blackfriars district of the City of London during the Renaissance. The theatre began as a venue for child actors associated with the Queen's chapel choirs; in this function, the theatre hosted some of the most innovative drama of Elizabeth and...
had been stymied by opposition from Blackfriars' wealthy residents; Burbage and company were faced with an imminent crisis.
After a last futile attempt to renew the lease, Burbage took action. The lease gave him the right to use the framing timber of the Theatre, if he did so before the expiration of the lease. When he did not do so, Alleyn announced his intention to use the timber for his own purposes. Looking for a place for his new Theater, he made a verbal agreement with Nicolas Brend for lease on a stretch of land on Maid Lane in Bankside
Bankside
Bankside is a district of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Southwark. Bankside is located on the southern bank of the River Thames, east of Charing Cross, running from a little west of Blackfriars Bridge to just a short distance before London Bridge at St Mary Overie Dock to...
, near Philip Henslowe
Philip Henslowe
Philip Henslowe was an Elizabethan theatrical entrepreneur and impresario. Henslowe's modern reputation rests on the survival of his diary, a primary source for information about the theatrical world of Renaissance London...
's Rose Theatre
The Rose (theatre)
The Rose was an Elizabethan theatre. It was the fourth of the public theatres to be built, after The Theatre , the Curtain , and the theatre at Newington Butts The Rose was an Elizabethan theatre. It was the fourth of the public theatres to be built, after The Theatre (1576), the Curtain (1577),...
. Burbage hired Peter Streete to take down the old Theatre and to build the new one from as much of the salvaged material as possible. On the night of 28 December 1598, Cuthbert, Richard, a certain William Smith "of Waltham Cross, in the County of Hartford, gentleman", Streete, and twelve others took down the Theater, carried all the wood and timber across the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
. This new theatre was the Globe, which had opened by September 1599. (The Chamberlain's Men, in the interim, appear to have performed at the Curtain Theatre
Curtain Theatre
The Curtain Theatre was an Elizabethan playhouse located in Curtain Close, Shoreditch , just outside the City of London. It opened in 1577, and continued staging plays until 1622....
in Shoreditch).
The Globe provided a stable home for the Chamberlain's Men and its successor, the King's Men, for the next four decades. As significant, Cuthbert and his brother had financed the new venue by making five actors (William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
, John Heminges
John Heminges
John Heminges was an English Renaissance actor. Most noted now as one of the editors of William Shakespeare's 1623 First Folio, Heminges served in his time as an actor and financial manager for the King's Men.-Life:Heminges was born in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire in 1556...
, Augustine Phillips
Augustine Phillips
Augustine Phillips was an Elizabethan actor who performed in troupes with Edward Alleyn and William Shakespeare. He was one of the first generation of English actors to achieve wealth and a degree of social status by means of his trade....
, Thomas Pope
Thomas Pope (16th-century actor)
Thomas Pope was an Elizabethan actor, a member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men and a colleague of William Shakespeare. Pope was a "comedian and acrobat."-Beginnings:...
, and William Kempe
William Kempe
William Kempe , also spelt Kemp, was an English actor and dancer specializing in comic roles and best known for having been one of the original players in early dramas by William Shakespeare...
) as a group, half-sharers in the profits of the house: this arrangement seems to have solidified the structure of the group, helping cement the position of the Chamberlain's Men as the preeminent troupe in London.