After the past tragic fortnight, I am pleased to continue with compiling my WS ABC and talk about EDWARD ALLEYN, one of the great Elizabethan actors.
Alleyn was born in London in 1566, the son of an inn-holder and porter to Queen Elizabeth I. By the age of 17 he appeared as an actor with the Earl of Worcester's Company and then moved on to act with the Lord Admiral's Company and Lord Strange's Men. He acted at the Rose Theatre (nr. the Globe) on the South Bank under the management of Philip Henslow, the late 16th century theatre manager and impresario. (As I couldn't find a picture of the original Henslowe, the one played by Geoffrey Rush in Shakespeare in Love will have to suffice!)
The last time Alleyn acted was in 1604 soon after Prince Henry, the son of James I, took over the Admiral's Men acting company. Alleyn's last public appearance, (though maybe not as an actor) was in the coronation procession of the newly crowned King James I in 1604. After he left the world of drama, Alleyn kept up his financial interest in the Fortune Theatre and he also inherited Henslowe's share in the Hope theatre.
Alleyn's major acting roles included: Tamburlaine, The Jew of Malta, Barabas and Doctor Faustus, all from Marlowe's plays. He also acted the role of Orlando in Robert Green's play as well as acting the part of Hieronimo in the Spanish Tragedy by Thomas Kyd as well as acting in plays by Nashe and Dekker.
He was considered one of the leading actors of his day and was famous for his "tragic style." In addition he was also an accomplished musician.
On his retirement he bought the manor of Dulwich in south-east London for nearly 10,000 pounds (well over a quarter of a million pounds in today's money) and here he settled down in 1613 - the same year that WS probably returned to his wife and family in Stratford for the last time. Alleyn founded Dulwich College - 'the college of God's gift - an educational institute that still exists today (see Google). In order to help his college financially, he endowed it with the freehold of the Fortune Theatre.
Dulwich College today
He continued with his philanthropic acts and patronage of the arts and in 1623 (the year Hemminges and Condell published WS First Folio, ) he married Constance, his second wife. She was the daughter of the poet and Dean of St Paul's, John Donne. (Donne was famous for his sermons and the two quotes: "No man is an island, entire of itself" and "...for whom the bell tolls.") Alleyn's first wife, Joan, was Henslowe's step-daughter. he had married her in October 1592 but she had died in the meanwhile.
Alleyn's first wife, Joan
Alleyn's gravestone
Next time I will deal with Elizabethan Acting Companies.
Incidentally, you can also read of a clash between Edward Alleyn and Shakepspeare in my novel, Welcome to London, Mr. Shakespeare.
For reactions, please email: wsdavidyoung@gmail.com
same name.
Alleyn was born in London in 1566, the son of an inn-holder and porter to Queen Elizabeth I. By the age of 17 he appeared as an actor with the Earl of Worcester's Company and then moved on to act with the Lord Admiral's Company and Lord Strange's Men. He acted at the Rose Theatre (nr. the Globe) on the South Bank under the management of Philip Henslow, the late 16th century theatre manager and impresario. (As I couldn't find a picture of the original Henslowe, the one played by Geoffrey Rush in Shakespeare in Love will have to suffice!)
The last time Alleyn acted was in 1604 soon after Prince Henry, the son of James I, took over the Admiral's Men acting company. Alleyn's last public appearance, (though maybe not as an actor) was in the coronation procession of the newly crowned King James I in 1604. After he left the world of drama, Alleyn kept up his financial interest in the Fortune Theatre and he also inherited Henslowe's share in the Hope theatre.
Alleyn's major acting roles included: Tamburlaine, The Jew of Malta, Barabas and Doctor Faustus, all from Marlowe's plays. He also acted the role of Orlando in Robert Green's play as well as acting the part of Hieronimo in the Spanish Tragedy by Thomas Kyd as well as acting in plays by Nashe and Dekker.
He was considered one of the leading actors of his day and was famous for his "tragic style." In addition he was also an accomplished musician.
On his retirement he bought the manor of Dulwich in south-east London for nearly 10,000 pounds (well over a quarter of a million pounds in today's money) and here he settled down in 1613 - the same year that WS probably returned to his wife and family in Stratford for the last time. Alleyn founded Dulwich College - 'the college of God's gift - an educational institute that still exists today (see Google). In order to help his college financially, he endowed it with the freehold of the Fortune Theatre.
He continued with his philanthropic acts and patronage of the arts and in 1623 (the year Hemminges and Condell published WS First Folio, ) he married Constance, his second wife. She was the daughter of the poet and Dean of St Paul's, John Donne. (Donne was famous for his sermons and the two quotes: "No man is an island, entire of itself" and "...for whom the bell tolls.") Alleyn's first wife, Joan, was Henslowe's step-daughter. he had married her in October 1592 but she had died in the meanwhile.
Alleyn's gravestone
Alleyn's Memorial Window
Next time I will deal with Elizabethan Acting Companies.
Incidentally, you can also read of a clash between Edward Alleyn and Shakepspeare in my novel, Welcome to London, Mr. Shakespeare.
For reactions, please email: wsdavidyoung@gmail.com
same name.
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