WHITEHALL
Everyone has heard of Whitehall, the magnificent London residence of Henry VIII and his royal daughters. Here we are only concerned with the Great Hall, the Great Chamber, the Banqueting House, and the Cockpit, all four apartments being the scene of dramatic entertainments. Proof of at least one of Shakespeare’s plays being presented at Whitehall will be found on the title page of the authentic quarto of “King Lear”:
“M. William Shakespeare,“His True Chronicle History of the life and death of King Lear and his three daughters. As it was played before the King’s Majestie at Whitehall upon St. Stephen’s night in Christmas Hollidays. By his Majestie’s servants playing usually at the Globe, on the Bankside, 1608.”
“M. William Shakespeare,
“His True Chronicle History of the life and death of King Lear and his three daughters. As it was played before the King’s Majestie at Whitehall upon St. Stephen’s night in Christmas Hollidays. By his Majestie’s servants playing usually at the Globe, on the Bankside, 1608.”
From documentary evidence there is proof that several of Shakespeare’s plays were acted at this palace, including “Othello,” “Measure for Measure,” “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” “The Winter’s Tale,” and others by the same dramatist, besides over a hundred performances of plays by various authors. These plays were produced in the magnificent structure called the Great Hall, which was a hundred feet in length and about forty in breadth. The roof was elaborately decorated, and from it hung eight large chandeliers and eight smaller ones, each containing fifteen lights. The scene on these occasions was one of great splendour, and those that witnessed it were considered exceptionallyfortunate, as only those whom the King delighted to honour were invited.
Plays were sometimes presented in the Great Chamber, a building of large dimensions. This room was often chosen on account of its great warmth, and also its being better adapted for presenting plays than the Great Hall. The Banqueting House, in which Shakespeare’s plays were given, was built by Queen Elizabeth; its length was 150 feet, the walls were of wood, with lath and plaster between. The roof, supported by thirty principals, was ceiled with canvas, and decorated most gorgeously with the emblems of the heavens. Externally the Hall presented the true Gothic type similar to those seen to-day at Hampton Court and Christ Church, Oxford. On each of the three sides, tiers of seats were erected for the audience, the fourth being reserved for the stage. The King and Queen sat on thrones facing the stage, a clear way of vision being kept in direct line with the actors. The performances were always given at night, contrasting very vividly with the afternoon representation at the Globe and other public theatres. This beautiful building was destroyed by fire. The existing Banqueting House was built in the reign of Charles I; many of Shakespeare’s plays were performed in this building before the King and Queen. From this fatal room King Charles was led forth to execution on January 30th, 1649. The celebrated architect, Inigo Jones, was the designer of this noble edifice, one of the few remaining buildings of this great architect which exist to adorn this great city.
The Palace of Whitehall. Reproduced with kind permission from a model by John B. Thorp, Esq.
The Palace of Whitehall. Reproduced with kind permission from a model by John B. Thorp, Esq.
Banqueting Hall and Holbein Gate, Whitehall. Tiltyard in foreground. Reproduced with kind permission from a model by John B. Thorp, Esq.
Banqueting Hall and Holbein Gate, Whitehall. Tiltyard in foreground. Reproduced with kind permission from a model by John B. Thorp, Esq.
The Cockpit, built in the reign of Henry VIII, was sometimes used for presenting plays, and quite possibly Shakespeare’s plays may have been given here before Queen Elizabeth. The building was octagonal in shape, resembling the public theatres, containing galleries and staircases. The originalsite stood in the neighbourhood of Downing Street. This building has frequently been confused with the Cockpit Theatre, situated in Drury Lane. There are many traps laid for the writers of early theatrical matters, and an author cannot be careful enough in thoroughly investigating his sources. I have noticed the most painstaking writers sometimes go astray, even Mr. Law, to whose interesting and valuable account of the Whitehall Palace I have been entirely indebted for the above description, alluded to the Blackfriars Theatre as being the scene of Shakespeare’s activities. There is not an atom of evidence to prove that Shakespeare ever acted on its boards or that his plays were produced there during his lifetime. The only evidence is that Cuthbert Burbage, the son of Richard Burbage, states that his father, in 1609 or 1610, placed deserving men, Heminge Condell and Shakespeare, at the Blackfriars. This evidence was given in 1632, and does not say in what capacity Shakespeare was placed there. The evidence may only have been given to prove his claim, or perhaps Shakespeare acted as Stage Manager; in spite of this meagre evidence, all writers persist in stating that Shakespeare acted at this theatre, which I emphatically deny, on the grounds that in the year 1610 Shakespeare severed his connexion with the stage and retired soon afterwards to Stratford-on-Avon.
Court performances were frequently held at Whitehall. As early as 1560 the Earl of Leicester’s players performed at one of the royal palaces before the Queen; in some instances the names of the plays performed are given, but unfortunately in most cases the name of the palace is not stated.
Chalmers, in hisApology, refers to Lord Strange’s men being paid £40 and £20 reward for six performances at Whitehall in December, 1591; the titles of the plays are not given. The most interestingperformance presented at Whitehall was Shakespeare’s “King Lear,” as acted before his Majesty at Whitehall upon St. Stephen’s night at Christmas last. The entry for publication of “King Lear” is found on the books of the Stationers’ Company, where the record states that Nathaniel Butter and John Busby entered their names for a copy of “a booke called Master William Shakespeare, his history of King Lear”; the licence is dated November 22nd, 1607. The “Christmas last of the Stationers’ Register” and “in Christmas Hollidaies” of the printed edition refer to the year 1606. Whether Shakespeare took part in this production cannot be definitely stated, but the probabilities are that he acted with his company.
1579. The Irish Knight. The Earl of Warwick’s players were paid £6 13s. 4d. for presenting this play before the Queen at Whitehall. 1597. The history of Murderous Michael was presented in 1604. The Children of the Revels played before the Queen at Whitehall.
In 1608, John Hemings was paid £130 for 13 plays acted before his Majesty at Whitehall. The King and Prince Charles witnessed a play at Whitehall, given on Sunday. This performance took place in the year 1623. As stated above, several plays were presented at the Court at Whitehall, for many years in succession.
The Marquise Tremouille on thursday last tooke leave of the Kinge; that night was feasted at white hall by the duke of Lennox in the Queen’s greate chamber.
In the Kinge’s greate chamber they went to see the play of “Pirrocles Prince of Tyre,” which lasted till 2 o’clocke. After two actes the players ceased till the french all refreshed them with sweetmeats, brought on china voiders and wine and ale in bottells, after the players began anew.