Category:Queen's (Elizabeth)

Origin

Of the companies under royal patronage in the Tudor period, the one whose business influenced the theatrical marketplace significantly in the 1580s was formed in March 1583 in conjunction with the authorization of Edmond Tilney, Master of Revels, to "chose out a companie of players for her maiestie" (qtd. in Chambers II.104). The definitive history of the company has been written by Scott McMillin and Sally-Beth MacLean, and their account in The Queen's Men and their Plays is the source here unless otherwise noted. Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth's official who authorized Tilney, had no personal interest in the business of playing but "was aware of the cultural influence drama could have" (McMillin and MacLean 25). Apparently with the cooperation of Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, Walsingham perceived the company as the queen's representatives on tour who, "dressed in their vivid livery coats," were telling stories with her political and religious bias through their drama (28).

1583-1594

Players

There is no extant royal patent for the Queen's company to name the original players, but a license dated 28 November 1583 by the Court of Aldermen of the City of London provides a partial list: Robert Wilson, John Dutton, Richard Tarlton, John Laneham, John Adams, and William Johnson (Wickham 300). In that same and subsequent years the following players joined the company: John Bentley (1583), Lionel Cooke (1583), Laurence Dutton (1589), John Garland (1583, 1598), John Heminges (? >1588), Simon Jewell (? >1592), William Knell (>1587), Tobias Mills (1583), John Singer (1583), John Towne (1583), and John Symons (a tumbler, 1588-9).

Venues

The Queen's players toured continuously throughout the kingdom. McMillin and MacLean collate their stops from a variety of documents in the scholarly domain by 1998 (Appendix A). For updates, see REED PP.

Repertory

1594-1603

One or more configurations of the Queen's men continued to perform until 1603, when the crown assumed patronage of several companies. The former Queen's company became the duke of Lennox's men.

Players

When the Queen's men reorganized in May 1594, Francis Henslowe was certainly one of the players; at that time his uncle loaned him £15 to become a sharer (8 May 1593 [1594?]). John Towne of the original company, along with Richard Alleyn and Hugh Davis, witnessed the loan, leaving the impression that these men were also company members. On 1 June 1595 Francis received a second loan from his uncle of £9 for a half-share, and witnesses to this transaction were Robert Nichols, William Smith (or Smyght), and George Attewell (or Ottewell), apparently also company members. In York in 1598, Smith and Garland (from 1583) are named as Queen's men along with John Cowper (1598) in a payment of 40s. not to play REED York; also. Other possible company players post-1594 include Robert Moon and John Shank.

Venues and Repertory

The Queen's men continued to tour vigorously in the provinces, and their receipts remained high; yet there was diminishment after 1598, perhaps reflecting a shrinking company as well as increasing "local resistance" to playing companies (McMillin and MacLean 66).

Works Cited

Plays associated with the Queen's Men.