The Children of Paul's The story of a theatre company, 15531608 [Paperback]

Professor Gair examines St Paul Cathedral 15531608, a commercially successful theatre and the players and playwrights who worked there.Professor Gair has researched extensively into primary source documents to produce a thorough account of the St Pauls Cathedral theatres origins, location, structure, repertoire and audience. It will interest social historians as well as students of the Renaissance and Shakespeare.Professor Gair has researched extensively into primary source documents to produce a thorough account of the St Pauls Cathedral theatres origins, location, structure, repertoire and audience. It will interest social historians as well as students of the Renaissance and Shakespeare.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.