Originally, the acting company was known as the Lord Howard’s Men, named after their patron, Charles Howard, Earl of Nottingham, and Baron Howard of Effingham (1536-1624), a cousin of Anne Boleyn. His grandfather was the great-grandfather of Elizabeth I. Howard was one of her most influential advisors and became Lord High Admiral in 1585, overseeing the fleet for the anticipated battle with Spain. With this new title, the company’s name changed to Lord Admiral’s Men.
From the mid-1570s, they performed at court and toured extensively. Around 1587, Edward Alleyn joined the Admiral’s Men. During this period, the group relocated to Philip Henslowe’s Rose Theatre. This move marked the start of a long-lasting collaboration between Alleyn and Henslowe. They achieved immediate success with the premiere of 1 Tamburlaine, featuring Alleyn in the title role.
Edward Alleyn’s presence brought theatre a stage personality with a devoted following, making actors valuable assets that theatre owners could commercialize. Audiences began to expect Alleyn in similar roles, shaping both the repertoire and the direction of the Admiral’s Men and the Rose Theatre in the following years.1 Alleyn also starred in Doctor Faustus and The Jew of Malta.
In 1600, the Admiral’s Men moved to the new Fortune Theatre. Unfortunately, when it burned down in 1621, both their costumes and all their plays were lost.
The company continued until 1631, undergoing two more name changes: Prince Henry’s Men and Palsgrave’s Men.
- Cerasano (2005)↩︎
