There were two Blackfriars Theatres, the second famed as the winter dwelling of The King’s Men, (after 1608). Both were situated on the site of a thirteenth century Dominican priory within the City of London between the River Thames and Ludgate Hill.

The estates of the priory were split up in 1538 at the suppression of the English monasteries under Henry the Eighth. In 1576, the Master of the Children of the chapel, Richard Farrant, leased part of the building along the western side of the priory cloisters so that the children could present their plays in this ‘private’ theatre before performing them at court. The building hosted several children’s companies until it was reverted to its owner in 1584.

Another part of the old monastery was bought by James Burbage, (the father of Richard Burbage), who converted it into a theatre in 1596. The theatre was leased initially to children’s companies after opposition to Burbage’s original plans for a public theatre. Richard Burbage inherited the Blackfriars Theatre in 1597 after his father’s death.

In 1608, Richard Burbage’s company of players, The King’s Men, played at The Blackfriars during the winter seasons. William Shakespeare’s later plays were premiered there.

At the outbreak of the English Civil Wars in 1642 The Blackfriars was forced to close. It was later demolished in 1655.