About The Lord Chamberlain’s Men
The Lord Chamberlain’s Men is the UK’s premier all male theatre company – with direct links to the history of William Shakespeare – presenting Shakespeare’s work as he first saw it; all male, in the open air and with Elizabethan costume, music and dance. Sitting under the same stars that Shakespeare sat under and hearing his poetry brought to life the company offer an unparalleled authentic, excellent and magical experience; one that is truly unique. We are renowned for productions of great vivacity, clarity, quality and accessibility. Our productions champion authenticity whilst breathing fresh, new life into these extraordinary plays. Seeing a production by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men will ignite, rekindle or maintain a burning passion in the greatest playwright the world has ever seen.
The company is based in amongst the beating heart of London’s theatre world but tours extensively throughout the United Kingdom, mainland Europe as well as to wider international shores.
With long-standing partnerships at some of the most beautiful and historically significant venues throughout the UK our partners include the National Trust, English Heritage, CADW and countless independent venues. Over the years we have performed at many stunning venues including Windsor Castle, Chatsworth, Norwich Cathedral, Cardiff Castle, Tintern Abbey, Dyrham Park and hundreds of others. We also have a great many theatre and arts festival partners including Brighton Festival, Salisbury International Arts Festival, New Theatre Royal Portsmouth, Venue Cymru and many others.
THE 16TH CENTURY
The Lord Chamberlain’s Men was the playing company that William Shakespeare worked for as actor and playwright for nearly a third of his career.
Formed at the end of a period of flux in the theatrical world of London, it had become, by 1603, one of the two leading companies of the city and was subsequently patronised by James I and renamed The King’s Men.
The company was founded during the reign of Queen Elizabeth in 1594, under the patronage of Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon, the then Lord Chamberlain, who was in charge of court entertainments. After its patron’s death in 1596, the company came under the patronage of his son, George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon, for whom it was briefly known as Lord Hunsdon’s Men until he in turn became Lord Chamberlain in 1597, whereupon it reverted to its previous name.
For most of its life, the company was one of the most prominent of its day, favoured by commoners and aristocracy alike – indeed The Lord Chamberlain’s Men was often invited to perform at Court, and records show that Queen Elizabeth I preferred them above all other companies. Such was the enthusiasm of the next monarch, James I, he even agreed to grant the company Royal Patronage.
The original company began life at a playhouse called The Theatre, northeast of the City of London. The owner of that land, however, had become firmly opposed to letting plays continue at The Theatre, and thus the company entered the late 1590s without a regular playhouse, though records indicate that they performed at the Curtain Theatre in Shoreditch while planning a permanent home. This situation changed when the company leased land in Southwark and, taking the framing timbers from The Theatre, constructed the now world-renowned Globe Theatre.
THE 21ST CENTURY
Founded in 2004 and named after the company that Shakespeare was a part of and for whom he wrote some of his most famous and greatest plays, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men has established itself as the UK’s premier open air touring theatre company.
Touring to over 70 venues throughout the UK and internationally over the summer months, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men brings its unique blend of all male Shakespearean entertainment to the most beautiful and historically significant open air venues. Audiences sit under the stars, sip a glass of wine and enjoy a picnic while being enthralled in true Elizabethan fashion.
The company follow the same principles that Shakespeare himself championed: clear, bold and dynamic storytelling in the open air, seasoned with a healthy dose of music, songs and comedy combine to make a Lord Chamberlain’s Men production the perfect way to spend a summer’s evening.
Over the last decade and more The Lord Chamberlain’s Men have gone from strength to strength, and continue to enhance their reputation as the UK’s most popular outdoor touring Shakespeare company. Renowned for high-quality, standard-setting productions the company is also setting the standard for good working practices.
WHY TOURING?
Between 1594 and 1603, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men played almost continuously in London, touring only when the threat of plague forced them to leave the city.
In 1598 the company took an unusual step when disease again threatened the closure of London’s theatres. One summer night they dismantled The Theatre – their home up until that time – and rebuilt it on the other side of the river, thus giving birth to the now famous Globe. In effect we recreate this act, by dismantling our theatre and reconstructing it on a regular basis as we move around the country.
Touring had been the staple of actors’ lives before the creation of permanent theatres. Today it gives The Lord Chamberlain’s Men the opportunity to take theatre to all parts of the country, providing access to Shakespeare for communities who might otherwise have little chance to experience his work.
A NOTE ON THE TEXT
In the Prologue to Romeo and Juliet the Chorus refers to the play as ‘…the two hour traffic of our stage…’
If this were an accurate timing, it would imply that Shakespeare’s actors must have spoken extremely quickly! However, there is some evidence that scripts may have been shortened for touring.
In this tradition The Lord Chamberlain’s Men perform sympathetically edited versions of the text, without losing any of the work’s richness and subtlety.