Shakespeare & Company

James Burbage founded the Lord Chamberlain’s Men in 1594, during the reign of Elizabeth I of England. Its most famous member was, of course, William Shakespeare, he’s only a small part of the companies fascinating story.

This varied company of actors and writers lived and worked around London, plying their craft. Although it was a beneficial time to be in the arts, Elizabethan England did provide its own dangers and pitfalls. The actors played their parts on the stage, but they had just as many demanding roles to play in their lives. The competition was fierce and brutal, and often the troupes were used as political tools of the warring aristocracy. Playhouses, and acting troupes, rose and fell at the whim of the rich and powerful.

This book gives insight in the times and politics of one of the greatest acting companies.