Theatre where Shakespeare’s work premiered uncovered

Published Wednesday 6 August 2008 at 13:25 by Lalayn Baluch

Archaeologists have found what they believe to be the remains of the theatre where Shakespeare’s plays where first performed.

The discovery was made by a team from the Museum of London Archaeology, who were excavating a site in the capital’s Shoreditch area.

It is thought that they have uncovered the original brick foundations of The Theatre - one of London’s first playhouses, which was built in 1576 and was home to the company in which Shakespeare first performed as an actor, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men.

It was dismantled in 1599 and its timbers were shipped across the Thames to construct the original Globe Theatre.

The excavated site will eventually be the home of The Tower Theatre Company, which performs Shakespeare work every year.

For more on this story, see next week’s issue of The Stage.