Right here, on this unassuming brick wall, lies a piece of theatrical history. This is the Curtain Theatre Plaque, a quiet sentinel marking the spot where London’s second purpose-built playhouse once stood. It was a place of great innovation and excitement. Imagine, in the late 16th century, eager theatregoers gathered in this very location, their faces illuminated by flickering candlelight, their ears filled with the vibrant language of Shakespeare’s plays.
The Curtain Theatre, opened in 1577, was a relatively short walk from London’s first public playhouse, The Theatre. It was built by Henry Lanman, a gentleman who owned the Curtain Close, a plot of land nearby. The name “Curtain” comes from the local Holywell Priory, which had a curtain wall between two bastions.
While the Curtain Theatre’s architecture is still being pieced together by archeologists, what is known is that the site housed a rectangular, timber-framed building with a stage measuring 46 feet long. But perhaps the most intriguing detail is the evidence of a tunnel under the stage. Think of the dramatic entrances and exits actors might employ with a tunnel to whisk them unseen from one side of the stage to the other!
The Curtain Theatre’s association with William Shakespeare is particularly significant. The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, Shakespeare’s theatre company, performed some of their most celebrated plays here, including “Romeo and Juliet”, “Henry IV, Part I and Part II”, and “Henry V”. Although the Curtain Theatre was eventually demolished, its legacy lives on.
So, as you stand here, take a moment to picture the bustling activity that once filled this space. The sounds of laughter, applause, and the whispers of lines from Shakespeare himself. The Curtain Theatre may be gone, but its story and the magic it held continue to resonate within these walls, reminding us of the enduring power of theatre.