When people talk about William Shakespeare and the places that have shaped the history of London theatre, the first name that usually comes to mind is the Globe Theatre. Yet, along the banks of the Thames, there is another site tied to the life and career of the famed playwright: the Rose Playhouse. Older than the Globe and long regarded as lost, the theatre is now exceptionally accessible to the public again after six years, offering the chance to study its archaeological remains up close.
Shakespeare’s Theatre Rediscovered After Centuries
The Rose Playhouse was built in 1587 at Bankside, becoming the first theatre in London purpose-built for this task in the area. It was already active when a young Shakespeare was taking his first steps in the theatre world and stood as one of the most important venues of the era’s stage. Here the playwright worked and performed regularly, while some of his plays and other texts from the period captivated London audiences.
It was at the Rose that Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare’s first tragedy, was performed, while the theatre also hosted important works by Christopher Marlowe, including The Doctor Faustus and Tamburlaine the Great. The Rose’s story, however, was surprisingly brief: the theatre closed in 1603, less than twenty years after its opening.
For centuries it was thought that no trace of the building remained. The turning point came in 1989, when the remains were discovered by chance during works for the construction of an office building nearby. The discovery sparked great interest and led to the mobilization of numerous figures from the world of theatre, including Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and Laurence Olivier, who engaged in the campaign to save the site. Today the ruins are protected by historic monuments law.
When to Visit the Rose Playhouse in London
The opportunity to see the Rose Playhouse’s remains is particularly rare. Guided tours will again be organized for the public in the months of September and October, for the first time in six years. Appointments are planned for every Thursday, from 17 September to 29 October, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with tours lasting about 45 minutes.
During the visit you will be able to learn the theatre’s history, understand why it was built precisely in Bankside, and discover the stories of the people who worked there and performed. An occasion to enter Elizabethan London through one of the places that preceded the more famous Globe Theatre.
The archaeological remains are kept underwater and illuminated by rope lights, while one part of the site, about a third, still needs to be excavated. The Rose Theatre Trust aims to raise the necessary funds to complete the archaeological digs and transform the area into The Rose Revealed, a space dedicated to exhibitions, educational activities, and performances.
The Rose Playhouse is located at 56 Park Street, Bankside, SE1 9AR. Admission is free for residents of Southwark, while for other visitors the ticket costs £12, with a reduced-rate ticket at £8. Booking should be made on the official Rose Playhouse website.
