Richard Burbage
Interesting information about
the life and times of Richard Burbage and the
Globe
Theatre of Elizabethan London, England
Short Biography of
the life of Richard Burbage - Elizabethan actor
The following biography information
provides basic facts about the life Richard Burbage:
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Nationality - English
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Lifespan - Richard Burbage
(1567 - 1619)
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Family - Son of
James Burbage and younger brother of
Cuthbert
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Acting Troupes: Member of the
Earl of Leicester's company, The Chamberlain's Men and the King's Men
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Career - Actor, theatrical
entrepreneur and painter
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Famous as : The most famous
actor of the Globe Theatre of his time. Principal actor in plays written
by both Ben Jonson and William Shakespeare
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He was named as one of
the leading actors who performed in the plays which were listed in
William Shakespeare's First Folio
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The First Folio
was published in 1623 and contained approximately 900 pages
containing 36 of the plays by William Shakespeare. It was entitled
"Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories & Tragedies"
The reputation of the early
Elizabethan Actors was not good and any were viewed as no better than
rogues and vagabonds - actors were not trusted. The standing of actors
improved when the purpose-built theatres were introduced and some
Elizabethan actors became the equivalent of today's superstars.
Facts & History
about the life of Richard Burbage - Elizabethan Actor
The following are additional facts
about the life and history of Richard Burbage:
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Richard Burbage was
believed to have been born in 1567 at Stratford-on-Avon, like his
friend William Shakespeare
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He was the son of James
Burbage who founded the first theatre and a famous theatrical
entrepreneur
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In 1576 James Burbage
obtained the lease and permission to build The Theatre in
Shoreditch, London
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Richard Burbage started
acting in leading roles by the time he was twenty years old
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Richard Burbage played
all of the most celebrated lead roles of of William Shakespeare
including Hamlet, Richard III, Othello and King Lear
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His acting style was
similar to the method actors of today. He assumed the identity of
the character he was playing
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He especially excelled
in plays themed in tragedy
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In 1596 Richard and his
brother Cuthbert, pulled down the Shoreditch house and used the
materials to erect the Globe theatre
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Cuthbert and Richard
Burbage were able to raise half of the cost - giving them each a 25%
share in the Globe
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William Shakespeare,
John Heminges, Augustine Phillips and Thomas Pope were co-owners of
the Globe Theatre
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Richard Burbage was
performing at the Globe Theatre on the 29th of June 1613, when the
original theatre caught fire and was destroyed
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He died in March 13,
1619
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He is buried at St
Leonard's, Shoreditch. St Leonards Church was often frequented by
Elizabethan actors as it was located near to the first purpose built
theatre called 'The Theatre' and also in close proximity to the
'Curtain Theatre'.
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His gravestone simply
reads "Exit Burbage"
The Chamberlain's Men Acting Troupe
The Chamberlain's Men, of which Richard Burbage was a member, were the most
important company of players in Elizabethan England and led by the
Burbage family and William Shakespeare. Initially known as known as
Hunsdon's Men, whose patron was Henry Carey the first Lord Hunsdon.
Hunsdon then took office as the Lord Chamberlain. The Chamberlain's Men
were taken under the royal patronage of James I in March 1603 and were
then known as the King's Men. The main rivals of the Chamberlain's Men
were the Admiral's Men Acting Troupe
led by Edward Alleyn and Phillip Henslowe.
Documented facts
about Richard Burbage - Elizabethan actor
The following documented facts are related to Richard Burbage and his life
as an Elizabethan actor together with details of his relationship with
fellow actors including William Shakespeare.
The Lord
Chamberlain's Men were licensed as the King's Men on 19 May 1603. The document lists
"Lawrence Fletcher, William Shakespeare, Richard Burbage, Augustyne
Phillippes, Iohn Heninges, Henrie Condell, William Sly, Robert Armyn,
Richard Cowly" as members of the troupe.
On 15 March 1604 King James,
Queen Anne, and Prince Henry rode through the City of London in a royal
entry postponed from the previous summer because of the plague. An account by Sir George
Home, who was Master of the Great Wardrobe, lists the names of "Players" who
were each given four yards of red cloth apiece for the investiture of King
James in London on 15 March 1604. The actors who were named were "William Shakespeare,
Augustine Phillipps, Lawrence Fletcher, John Hemminges, Richard
Burbidge, William Slye, Robert Armyn, Henry Cundell, and Richard Cowley."
On 15 March 1595,the
Treasurer of the Queen's Chamber paid "William Kempe William Shakespeare
& Richarde Burbage servants to the Lord Chamberleyne" for their performances
at court in Greenwich on 26th and 27th December 1594
In his will, William
Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon left a bequest "to my ffellowes John
Hemynge Richard Burbage & Henry Cundell a peece to buy
them Ringes."
The cast list for Jonson's
Sejanus, performed in 1603, includes "Ric. Burbadge, Aug. Philips, Will.
Sly, Ioh. Lowin, Will. Shake-Speare, Ioh. Hemings, Hen. Condel, and
Alex. Cooke."
The 1616 Folio of Ben
Jonson's Works contained cast lists for his plays. The cast list for
Jonson's Every Man in His Humor, which was performed in 1598, includes "Will
Shakespeare, Aug. Philips, Hen. Condel, Will. Slye, Will. Kempe, Ric.
Burbadge, Ioh. Hemings, Tho. Pope, Chr. Beeston, and Ioh. Duke."
Richard Burbage
Interesting Facts and information
about
the History, Life & Times of
the famous Elizabethan actor, Richard Burbage.
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