King's Revels Men
Encyclopedia
The King's Revels Men or King's Revels Company was a playing company
or troupe of actors in seventeenth-century England. In the confusing theatre nomenclature of that era, it is sometimes called the second King's Revels Company, to distinguish it from an earlier troupe with the same title that was active in the 1607-9 period. Since the earlier group was a company of boy actors
, they are alternatively referred to as the King's Revels Children
, while the later troupe is termed the King's Revels Men.
The King's Revels Men received a royal charter on February 27, 1615. They spent their early years touring the cities and towns outside of London
, though they later took up residence in the City. By the second quarter of the century they were acting at the Fortune Theatre
and at the Salisbury Court Theatre
(the latter in 1630–31 and 1633–36). They played Thomas Randolph's
The Muses' Looking-Glass in the summer of 1630
, and James Shirley
's Love in a Maze
in 1632
— one of the few Shirley plays that was not acted by the rival Queen Henrietta's Men
. In 1635
they had a major success with Richard Brome
's play The Sparagus Garden
, which reportedly earned £1000 at the box office.
Other plays in the company's repertory included Brome's The Queen and Concubine
, Randolph's Amyntas, Thomas Rawlins's The Rebellion, Nathaniel Richards's Messalina, William Heminges
's The Madcap, and Henry Glapthorne
's The Lady Mother
.
The company's personnel included Curtis Greville
, William Hall
, William Hart
, Thomas Loveday
, and the two William Cartwrights
, father and son; Edward Gibbes, Christopher Goad, John Robinson, and William Wilbraham. Timothy Read
was famous as their chief clown and comedian.
During the long closure of the London theatres from May 1636 to October 1637, due to an outbreak of bubonic plague
, the King's Revels Men was the group most severely effected: it broke up completely. Some of its members, like Read, passed on to the Queen Henrietta's company.
Playing company
In Renaissance London, playing company was the usual term for a company of actors. These companies were organized around a group of ten or so shareholders , who performed in the plays but were also responsible for management. The sharers employed "hired men" — that is, the minor actors and...
or troupe of actors in seventeenth-century England. In the confusing theatre nomenclature of that era, it is sometimes called the second King's Revels Company, to distinguish it from an earlier troupe with the same title that was active in the 1607-9 period. Since the earlier group was a company of boy actors
Boy player
Boy player is a common term for the adolescent males employed by Medieval and English Renaissance playing companies. Some boy players worked for the mainstream companies and performed the female roles, as women did not perform on the English stage in this period...
, they are alternatively referred to as the King's Revels Children
King's Revels Children
The King's Revels Children or Children of the King's Revels were a troupe of actors, or playing company, in Jacobean era London, active in the 1607-9 period...
, while the later troupe is termed the King's Revels Men.
The King's Revels Men received a royal charter on February 27, 1615. They spent their early years touring the cities and towns outside of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, though they later took up residence in the City. By the second quarter of the century they were acting at the Fortune Theatre
Fortune Playhouse
The Fortune Playhouse was an historic theatre in London. It was located between Whitecross Street and the modern Golden Lane, just outside the City of London...
and at the Salisbury Court Theatre
Salisbury Court Theatre
The Salisbury Court Theatre was a theatre in 17th-century London. It was located in the neighbourhood of Salisbury Court, which was formerly the London residence of the Bishops of Salisbury. Salibury Court was acquired by Richard Sackville in 1564; when Thomas Sackville was created Earl of Dorset...
(the latter in 1630–31 and 1633–36). They played Thomas Randolph's
Thomas Randolph (poet)
Thomas Randolph was an English poet and dramatist. He was baptized on 18 June 1605 and was the uncle of American colonist William Randolph.-Education:...
The Muses' Looking-Glass in the summer of 1630
1630 in literature
The year 1630 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:* English literature, drama, and education lose a major patron and benefactor when William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke and Lord Chamberlain of England, dies on April 10.-New books:...
, and James Shirley
James Shirley
James Shirley was an English dramatist.He belonged to the great period of English dramatic literature, but, in Lamb's words, he "claims a place among the worthies of this period, not so much for any transcendent genius in himself, as that he was the last of a great race, all of whom spoke nearly...
's Love in a Maze
Love in a Maze
The Changes, or Love in a Maze is a Caroline era stage play, a comedy of manners written by James Shirley, first published in 1639. It was one of Shirley's most popular comedies, especially in the Restoration era...
in 1632
1632 in literature
The year 1632 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*On February 14, Tempe Restored, a masque written by Aurelian Townshend and designed by Inigo Jones, is performed at Whitehall Palace....
— one of the few Shirley plays that was not acted by the rival Queen Henrietta's Men
Queen Henrietta's Men
Queen Henrietta's Men was an important playing company or troupe of actors in Caroline era London. At their peak of popularity, Queen Henrietta's Men were the second leading troupe of the day, after only the King's Men.-Beginnings:...
. In 1635
1635 in literature
The year 1635 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*February 22 - In Paris, the Académie française is founded.*May 6 - The King's Men perform Othello at the Blackfriars Theatre.*Birth of René Descartes' daughter, Francine....
they had a major success with Richard Brome
Richard Brome
Richard Brome was an English dramatist of the Caroline era.-Life:Virtually nothing is known about Brome's private life. Repeated allusions in contemporary works, like Ben Jonson's Bartholomew Fair, indicate that Brome started out as a servant of Jonson, in some capacity...
's play The Sparagus Garden
The Sparagus Garden
The Sparagus Garden is a Caroline era stage play, a comedy by Richard Brome. It was the greatest success of Brome's career, and one of the major theatrical hits of its period.-Performance and publication:...
, which reportedly earned £1000 at the box office.
Other plays in the company's repertory included Brome's The Queen and Concubine
The Queen and Concubine
The Queen and Concubine is a Caroline era stage play, a tragicomedy written by Richard Brome and first published in 1659. It has sometimes been called Brome's best tragicomedy.-Publication and date:...
, Randolph's Amyntas, Thomas Rawlins's The Rebellion, Nathaniel Richards's Messalina, William Heminges
William Heminges
William Heminges , also Hemminges, Heminge, and other variants, was a playwright and theatrical figure of the Caroline period. He was the ninth child and third son of John Heminges, the actor and colleague of William Shakespeare.William Heminges was christened on October 3, 1602, in the parish of...
's The Madcap, and Henry Glapthorne
Henry Glapthorne
Henry Glapthorne was a Caroline era dramatist.Glapthorne was baptized in Cambridgeshire, the son of Thomas Glapthorne and Faith nee Hatcliff. His father was a bailiff of Lady Hatton, the wife of Sir Edward Coke...
's The Lady Mother
The Lady Mother
The Lady Mother is a Caroline era stage play, a tragicomedy generally attributed to Henry Glapthorne, and dating from the middle 1630s. Never printed in its own era, the play survived in a manuscript marked as a theatre prompt-book, revealing significant details about the stage practice of its...
.
The company's personnel included Curtis Greville
King's Men personnel
King's Men personnel were the people who worked with and for the Lord Chamberlain's Men and the King's Men from 1594 to 1642...
, William Hall
King's Men personnel
King's Men personnel were the people who worked with and for the Lord Chamberlain's Men and the King's Men from 1594 to 1642...
, William Hart
King's Men personnel
King's Men personnel were the people who worked with and for the Lord Chamberlain's Men and the King's Men from 1594 to 1642...
, Thomas Loveday
King's Men personnel
King's Men personnel were the people who worked with and for the Lord Chamberlain's Men and the King's Men from 1594 to 1642...
, and the two William Cartwrights
William Cartwright (actor)
William Cartwright was an English actor of the seventeenth century, whose career spanned the Caroline era to the Restoration. He is sometimes known as William Cartwright, Junior or William Cartwright the younger to distinguish him from his father, another William Cartwright William Cartwright...
, father and son; Edward Gibbes, Christopher Goad, John Robinson, and William Wilbraham. Timothy Read
Timothy Read
Timothy Read was a comic actor of the Caroline era, and one of the most famous and popular performers of his generation....
was famous as their chief clown and comedian.
During the long closure of the London theatres from May 1636 to October 1637, due to an outbreak of bubonic plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
, the King's Revels Men was the group most severely effected: it broke up completely. Some of its members, like Read, passed on to the Queen Henrietta's company.