Long before the bright lights of the West End, London’s theatrical innovation was taking shape in Shoreditch. Among its most iconic early venues was the Curtain Theatre, a pioneering playhouse whose recently rediscovered remains are shedding new light on Shakespearean drama, Elizabethan architecture, and popular entertainment. 📖 Read More: Medieval Shoreditch
Origins and Early History
The Curtain Theatre was founded in 1577, making it London’s second purpose-built playhouse after The Theatre, also in Shoreditch. Its name derived from its location in “Curtain Close,” a pasture near the old monastic boundary wall of Holywell Priory.
At the time, Shoreditch was a fringe district, known more for brothels and bear-baiting than culture. The Curtain, along with its neighbour The Theatre, helped transform the area into London’s first theatre district. 🔊 Listen Now: Episode 50: History of Shoreditch
The theatre’s first proprietor, Henry Lanman, entered into an agreement in 1585 with James Burbage, the owner of The Theatre. The Curtain served as a supplementary venue or “easer,” providing performance space when The Theatre was unavailable. However, it soon made its own mark on London’s theatrical scene.
Shakespeare and the Curtain
The Curtain’s most celebrated period came between 1597 and 1599, when it became the home of Shakespeare’s company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. During these years, the Curtain hosted some of the first performances of plays that would become iconic, including:
- Romeo and Juliet
- Henry IV Parts 1 & 2
- Henry V
In fact, the prologue to Henry V famously references “this wooden O,” a line long associated with the Globe but possibly first spoken at the Curtain. Contemporary sources like playwright John Marston even referred to “Curtain plaudities,” suggesting Romeo and Juliet premiered there.
The Curtain also hosted the first performance of Ben Jonson’s Every Man in His Humour in 1598, with Shakespeare himself in the cast. Later that year, Jonson famously killed fellow actor Gabriel Spencer in a duel nearby, a reminder that the world of Elizabethan drama could be as dramatic offstage as on.
Rediscovery and Archaeological Breakthroughs
For centuries, the Curtain’s precise location and structure remained a mystery. That changed in 2012, when the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) began excavations in Shoreditch as part of a new development.
A Unique Rectangular Design
Unlike the Globe or Rose theatres, which were round or polygonal, the Curtain was rectangular — about 22 x 30 metres. This layout was closer to the inn-yard theatres of earlier decades and has prompted scholars to rethink how Elizabethan drama was staged.
A Long, Hidden-Feature Stage
The stage itself was unusually long (14 metres), with a concealed passage beneath it. This would have allowed actors to move unseen between stage entrances — ideal for quick exits and dramatic reveals.
Brick and Timber Construction
The structure was a mix of brick foundations and timber galleries, with a gravel yard for standing spectators. The theatre could likely hold around 1,400 people, ranging from apprentices in the yard to gentry in the galleries.
Artefacts of Theatrical Life
The excavation revealed everyday objects that offer a vivid glimpse into life at the Curtain:
- Ceramic money boxes used to collect entry fees — the origin of the term “box office”
- Glass beads and pins from costumes or spectators’ clothing
- A clay bird whistle, possibly used for sound effects
- A bone comb, likely used backstage by actors
- Pipes and drinking vessels, suggesting performances were social occasions
The Curtain's Cultural Role
More than just an entertainment venue, the Curtain helped define Shoreditch as a centre of creativity. Its rectangular layout encouraged new types of staging and audience engagement, possibly influencing how Shakespeare wrote and directed.
The theatre catered to a diverse social mix. Tradesmen, apprentices, and merchants rubbed shoulders with gentlemen and court officials. The plays performed were equally wide-ranging: comedies, tragedies, and history plays that reflected and shaped contemporary society.
From Decline to Legacy
After the company moved to the newly built Globe Theatre in 1599, the Curtain fell into decline. It likely remained in use into the early 17th century but faded from the record during the Civil War era. Urban development buried its remains — until modern archaeology brought it back to life. 🔗Read more: Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
The theatre is now at the heart of a mixed-use development called The Stage, which will include a visitor centre with a glass stage suspended above the excavated remains, preserving the site while offering new ways to engage with its story.
