Philip Henslowe

Philip Henslowe was the most important English theatre manager and proprietor of the Elizabethan age. He had a number of interests besides the theatre, including pawnbroking, starch making and wood selling. In 1587, Henslowe and a partner built The Rose theatre on Bankside, using money gleaned from his marriage to a wealthy widow. Under Henslowe’s financial management various companies acted at The Rose.

In 1592, the great actor, Edward Alleyn, married Henslowe’s stepdaughter, and Henslowe’s interest in the theatre strengthened. Henslowe had a hand in the running of The Swan Theatre, and the Newington Butts Theatre in the London suburbs.

The most impressive of Henslowe’s theatres was The Fortune, built in 1600 for The Admiral’s Men theatre company, (which Henslowe managed). This was built just North of London and was designed to resemble The Globe. However, The Globe’s superior location on Bankside gave it the edge in attracting patronage.

In 1613, Henslowe built The Hope playhouse, designed for the dual purpose of staging plays and bearbaiting. Its proximity to The Globe meant it was a more natural rival to Shakespeare’s theatre.

Henslowe’s theatres premiered many of the most important Elizabethan dramas. His Admiral’s Men, the main rivals of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, were associated closely with the playwright Christopher Marlowe and performed many of his greatest plays including Faustus and The Jew of Malta.

Much is known about Henslowe’s life due to the famous discovery of his diary, a rich source book of accounts, playhouse receipts, payments to actors, to playwrights, for costumes and materials, and other memoranda. It is because of this book that so much can be deduced about Elizabethan theatre.

Philip Henslowe died in London on 6th January, 1616.