The Children of Paul's
The story of a theatre company, 1553–1608

Professor Gair examines St Paul Cathedral 1553–1608, a commercially successful theatre and the players and playwrights who worked there.

Reavley Gair (Author)

9780521134903, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 11 March 2010

224 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.3 cm, 0.29 kg

Between 1553 and 1608 St Paul's Cathedral housed one of the earliest London theatre companies, a commercially successful playhouse whose actors were drawn from the choirboys under the direction of their choir master. These were the Children of Paul's. Professor Gair has researched extensively into primary source documents to produce a thorough account of the theatre's origins, location, structure, repertoire and audience. As such this book represents the most detailed description to date of the workings of an Elizabethan commercial theatre. This book provides a fascinating background to our reading of Elizabethan drama as well as the technical history of a theatre company and a paricular area of Elizabethan London. As such it will interest social historians as well as students of the Renaissance and Shakespeare.

List of illustrations
Preface
editions and abbreviations
Introduction: the Children of Paul's and the English Drama
1. The decay of St Paul's
2. Paul's playhouse
3. the business of theatre in court and city
4. Interregnum and new departures
5. New management: new methods
6. The triumph of profit and Puritanism
Appendix 1. Documents
Appendix 2. Personalia
Appendix 3. Plays
Notes
Select bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Dance & other performing arts [AS], Theatre studies [AN]