Red Lion (theatre)
Encyclopedia
The Red Lion was an Elizabethan playhouse located in Whitechapel
(part of the modern Borough of Tower Hamlets
), just outside the City of London
. Built in 1567, by John Brayne, formerly a grocer, this theatre was a short-lived attempt to provide a purpose-built playhouse, the first known in London, for the many Tudor
touring theatrical companies.
The Red Lion had been a farm, but a single gallery multi-sided theatre (constructed by John Williams), with a fixed stage 40 feet (12.2 m) by 30 feet (9.1 m), standing 5 feet (1.5 m) above the audience, was built by John Reynolds, in the garden of the farmhouse. The stage was equipped with trapdoors, and an attached 30 feet (9.1 m) turret, or fly tower - for aerial stunts and to advertise its presence. The construction cost £20, and while it appears to have been a commercial success, the Red Lion offered little that the prior tradition of playing in inns had not offered, and it was too far from its audiences to be attractive (at the time, the area was open farmland) for visiting in the winter.
The only play known to have been presented here was The Story of Sampson, after some corrections had been made to the structure and there is little documentary evidence that the theatre survived beyond the summer season of 1567.
The exact location of the theatre remains unknown, with commentators identifying the eastern edge of Whitechapel
, where it meets the western edge of Stepney
as the most likely location. This is the junction of Whitchapel High Street with Cambridge Heath Road, where there are proposed works for London's Crossrail
project. A survey has been prepared that argues for a position on the southern side of Whitechapel High Street, closer to the site of the 18th Century London Hospital and opposite the contemporary Boar's Head Inn
. With The George, a further playhouse 300 metres (328 yd) to the east.
The little that is known of the Red Lion comes principally from lawsuits between Brayne and his carpenters, and also with Edward Stowers, a blacksmith of Averstone, Essex
(the modern Alphamstone
). Brayne was married to Stowers' sister Margaret. The suit concerned 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) of land straddling the Essex
-Suffolk
border, and alleged that Brayne raised a mortgage on the land, by trickery, in order to build the Red Lion. Separate actions were brought against the carpenters. In July 1567, William Sylvester, the constructor of the galleries for the spectators, was brought before the Court of the Carpenters' Company
and resulted in arbitration. The second was against John Reynolds in the Court of King's Bench in January 1569, and the outcome is not known.
The venture was soon replaced by a more successful collaboration between Brayne and another brother-in-law, the actor-manager James Burbage
at Shoreditch
, known as The Theatre
. The Red Lion was a receiving house for touring companies, whereas The Theatre accepted long-term engagements, essentially in repertory, with companies being based there. The former was a continuation of the tradition of touring groups, performing at inns and grand houses, the later a radically new form of theatrical engagement.
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
(part of the modern Borough of Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
), just outside the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. Built in 1567, by John Brayne, formerly a grocer, this theatre was a short-lived attempt to provide a purpose-built playhouse, the first known in London, for the many Tudor
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
touring theatrical companies.
The Red Lion had been a farm, but a single gallery multi-sided theatre (constructed by John Williams), with a fixed stage 40 feet (12.2 m) by 30 feet (9.1 m), standing 5 feet (1.5 m) above the audience, was built by John Reynolds, in the garden of the farmhouse. The stage was equipped with trapdoors, and an attached 30 feet (9.1 m) turret, or fly tower - for aerial stunts and to advertise its presence. The construction cost £20, and while it appears to have been a commercial success, the Red Lion offered little that the prior tradition of playing in inns had not offered, and it was too far from its audiences to be attractive (at the time, the area was open farmland) for visiting in the winter.
The only play known to have been presented here was The Story of Sampson, after some corrections had been made to the structure and there is little documentary evidence that the theatre survived beyond the summer season of 1567.
The exact location of the theatre remains unknown, with commentators identifying the eastern edge of Whitechapel
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
, where it meets the western edge of Stepney
Stepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
as the most likely location. This is the junction of Whitchapel High Street with Cambridge Heath Road, where there are proposed works for London's Crossrail
Crossrail
Crossrail is a project to build a major new railway link under central London. The name refers to the first of two routes which are the responsibility of Crossrail Ltd. It is based on an entirely new east-west tunnel with a central section from to Liverpool Street station...
project. A survey has been prepared that argues for a position on the southern side of Whitechapel High Street, closer to the site of the 18th Century London Hospital and opposite the contemporary Boar's Head Inn
Boar's Head Inn
The Boar's Head Inn may refer to a number of former taverns in London, of which the following are the most famous:* The Boar's Head Tavern, on Eastcheap, featured in historical plays of Shakespeare as a favourite of the fictional character Falstaff and his friends. It was the subject of essays by...
. With The George, a further playhouse 300 metres (328 yd) to the east.
The little that is known of the Red Lion comes principally from lawsuits between Brayne and his carpenters, and also with Edward Stowers, a blacksmith of Averstone, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
(the modern Alphamstone
Alphamstone
Alphamstone is a village and civil parish in Essex, England. It is located south of Sudbury, Suffolk and is northeast from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the district of Braintree and in the parliamentary constituency of Saffron Walden...
). Brayne was married to Stowers' sister Margaret. The suit concerned 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) of land straddling the Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
-Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
border, and alleged that Brayne raised a mortgage on the land, by trickery, in order to build the Red Lion. Separate actions were brought against the carpenters. In July 1567, William Sylvester, the constructor of the galleries for the spectators, was brought before the Court of the Carpenters' Company
Worshipful Company of Carpenters
The Worshipful Company of Carpenters is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Carpenters were traditionally different from a fellow wood-crafting company, the Joiners' and Ceilers' Company, in that the Carpenters utilised nails while the Joiners used adhesives to attach wood.The...
and resulted in arbitration. The second was against John Reynolds in the Court of King's Bench in January 1569, and the outcome is not known.
The venture was soon replaced by a more successful collaboration between Brayne and another brother-in-law, the actor-manager 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...
at 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:...
, known as 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...
. The Red Lion was a receiving house for touring companies, whereas The Theatre accepted long-term engagements, essentially in repertory, with companies being based there. The former was a continuation of the tradition of touring groups, performing at inns and grand houses, the later a radically new form of theatrical engagement.