In one of the most exciting archaeological discoveries in the capital in recent years, archaeologists from the Museum of London have uncovered what they believe to be one of London’s earliest playhouses, and Shakespeare’s first, in Shoreditch.
It has long been known that an open air playhouse, prosaically called ‘The Theatre’, stood in the area, but traces of its exact location have proved elusive. Now in a remarkable act of serendipity, the discovery has been made during excavations on a site being prepared for the building of a new theatre, by the Tower Theatre Company.
To quote the Bard: “The wheel has come full circle.”
Museum of London Archaeology have previously excavated at the sites of the Rose, Globe and Hope theatres as well as performing earlier investigations on The Theatre site, which have helped map out the Shakespearian city. Now they have found the footings of what appears to be part of a polygonal structure during their evaluation of the site at New Inn Broadway, Shoreditch.
“It's extremely exciting to be so close to the known location of The Theatre and then find remains that look to be associated with it,” said Jo Lyon, Senior Archaeologist at Museum of London Archaeology.
“As well as allowing us to walk in the footsteps of Shakespeare himself, the remains help us to start uncovering one of London's enduring secrets. We can now start to work on the detail of what the building here might have looked like, and expand our knowledge of the playhouses of Elizabethan London."
A venture of the travelling player James Burbage, The Theatre was one of London’s first dedicated playhouses when it opened in 1576. It was here that a young William Shakespeare trod the boards as part of The Lord Chamberlain’s Men company of players, and where had his first plays performed.
Archaeologists believe the shape, age and location of the remains all point to their being part of the lost Theatre and it is thought they form the north-eastern corner of the building, which followed a design described in Henry V as “this wooden O”.
As well as being understandably thrilled that their theatre is to be built on the site of the Bard’s theatre debut, the owners of the proposed new playhouse on the site, Tower Theatre Company, say they will keep the archaeological remains in situ and are in discussion with English Heritage to help them do so.
"This discovery gives us a real sense of place - a wonderful slice of continuity across the centuries," added Taryn Nixon, Director of Museum of London Archaeology. "As archaeologists, it's a thrill to be able to discover the identity of a place but also to think of the plays and stories to be retold on this site for years to come."
A formal planning application is to be submitted to Hackney Council by Tower Theatre Group, with the next step being a major campaign to raise the remaining £3 million required to complete the project.
