The Theatre - First public playhouse of London, was the first permanent theatre ever built in England. It was built in 1576 (after the Red Lion). It was designed and built by actor and entrepreneur, James Burbage- the father of the great actor Richard Burbage. It was located in Shoreditch, an area just north of the city of London. The Theatre was built solely for the purpose of staging theatrical productions. The Theatre's history includes a number of acting troupes, who have performed here the most important being; The Lord Chamberlian's Men, the theatre company for whom William Shakespeare wrote his plays. Shakespeare himself has performed here as an actor.
It was a wooden building polygonal in shape with three galleries that surrounded an open yard. From one side of the polygon extended a thrust stage. It had features similar to those of the future Globe playhouse and other playhouses, such as galleries, upper rooms, a tiring house, and trap doors on the stage floor. The playhouse was a timber building with a tile roof; other materials used to construct the Theatre were brick, sand, lime, lead, and iron. The Theatre is said to have cost £700 to construct. The open yard in front of the stage was cobbled and provided space for the audience to stand for a penny. For another penny, the audience were allowed into the galleries where they could either sit or stand and for a third penny they could procure a stool. One of the galleries, though sources do not state which, was divided into small compartments that were used by the wealthy aristocrats. This kind of theatre is also described as "Amphitheatre" which became a very famous form of theatre construction.
The Theatre was opened in the autumn of 1576 and several companies performed there, including Leicester's Men (1576–78), the Admiral's Men (1590–91), and Lord Chamberlian's Men (1594–96), who were associated with William Shakespeare.
Towards the end of 1596, problems arose with the landlord and the Theatre’s lease ended. The Lord Chamberlain’s men were forced to stop using the theatre and were asked to move out. After the death of James Burbage in February 1597, with the help of William smith, chief carpenter Peter Street and along with ten to twelve workers the theatre was dismantled on the night of the 28th December 1598 and the structure was moved piece by piece to Street’s Yard near Bridewell. The pieces of The Great Theatre were then used in the construction of the Globe Theatre.
