Phillip Henslowe

Philip Henslowe was the owner of a few prominent playhouses and a financial keeper for some of the best acting companies in England. He was born in 1550 in Linfield, Sussex, England and died on January 6, 1616 in London. Henslowe was also well known for his “diary”. His diary holds a record of almost all of the major plays that were performed in this era. It also provided significant information that historians used to discover the chronological geographies of theatrical andnontheatricalbusiness endeavors during the Elizabethan era. Henslowe built the Rose Theatre in 1587 inBankside, London, which was a dualpurpose venue for Bear Baiting and plays. It was the first public theatre in the area that allowed the tragedies of Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Kyd to be performed. Henslowe also built and managed The Hope Theatre. Henslowe was one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the Elizabethan Era. He was responsible for pawnbroking and finances for all his venues. Some described Henslowe as illiterate, moneyed, old, or fraudulent, but there is no doubt that he was a businessman first.

 

Author: Nunez, Isiah Stonehill College 2018

Editor: Manchanda, Malana Stonehill College 2020

Henslowe, Phillip