13 Facts About James Burbage

James Burbage built The Theatre, the first permanent dedicated theatre built in England since Roman times.

James Burbage was born around 1531, probably in Bromley in Kent.

James Burbage was apprenticed in London to the trade of joiner, and must have persevered through his apprenticeship and taken up his freedom, as in 1559 he was referred to as a joiner twice in the register of St Stephen's, Coleman Street.

James Burbage was one of the greatest at the craft of carpentry, which gave him an advantage at his start of theatrical management later in his life.

James Burbage was the father to one of Shakespeare's personal friends, Richard Burbage, who played all the great roles in Shakespeare plays.

James Burbage showed his talents alongside Shakespeare, both being co-owners of the Globe Theatre.

James Burbage was buried a few hundred yards from St Leonard's church, which is the burial ground for many other actors from this era.

James Burbage died right before the lease expired on the Theatre, so after his passing, his son Richard took down the Theatre and rebuilt it across the Thames river and called it the Globe Theatre.

Since James Burbage owned the lease, he received rent money for properties on the site.

The exact builder of The Theatre is unknown, though a likely candidate is James Burbage's brother Robert, who was a carpenter.

James Burbage had not agreed a renewal with the landlord and invested instead in the building of the Blackfriars Theatre.

James Burbage was very confident that spectators would come to The Theatre, even if they had to go through open fields to get there.

The building had once been a Dominican monastery in the south-west corner of London, but James Burbage had plans to renovate the building into the English-speaking world's first permanent, purpose-built indoor theatre.