Shakespeare's first theatre discovered in London

The remains of the Curtain theatre, where Shakespeare's 'Henry V' and 'Romeo and Juliet' may have been first performed, have been discovered in East London.

Parts of the Curtain theatre being excavated in Shoreditch, east London, by the Museum of London Archaeology (Mola) as part of regeneration works Photo: PA

12:39PM BST 06 Jun 2012

Remains of the once lost Curtain theatre, which preceded the Globe as the venue which showcased Shakespeare's work, have been found in East London.

It's likely that the theatre was the home to some of the first performances of Romeo and Juliet and Henry V.

The theatre was dismantled in the 17th century and its exact location was lost to historians soon after. Now, the Museum of London Archaeology (MoLA) has found sections of the theatre in Shoreditch, East London.

The MoLA has found the original site on Hewett Street, a few hundred yards from another theatre found by the museum in 2008 called The Theatre. Both this and the Curtain are believed to be the earliest purpose-built theatres in London.

Part of the gravelled yard, where audiences stood and watched the plays, and the foundation walls have been uncovered after 500 years.

Experts conducting the archaeological dig are confident of finding more as the site is cleared. The MoLA excavators said the site remains very well preserved.

Legend goes that the famous actor-manager James Burbage dismantled The Theatre overnight after a dispute with the landlord and set about building the Globe theatre across the river.

Until the Globe was built, Burbage and his troupe used the Curtain theatre to perform in from 1597 for two years. This is the period in which Henry V and Romeo and Juliet were first staged.

The lines from Shakespeare's Henry V 'Can this cock-Pit hold within this Woodden O', may have first been spoken in the Curtain theatre, which was created in a wooden O shape, much like the Globe.

Dominic Dromgoole, artistic director of the Globe theatre, said: "I love the fact that we are excavating London, and slowly clearing away the miserable piles of Victoriana and Empire, and revealing the wild, anarchic and joyous London which is lurking beneath."

The site is owned by Plough Yard Developments, which plan to feature the remains as part of a new office, retail and residential space.

Extraído de The Telegraph