The following is a list of Court palaces in which plays were presented before the reigning monarchs. Both Elizabeth and James were enthusiastic playgoers. In the latter’s reign court performances were given every day in the week, Sundays included, and although at times the plays produced were far from entertaining, the royal pair remained until the play was ended, in spite of being tired, as the rest of the audience often were.
WHITEHALL
Everyone has heard of Whitehall, the magnificent London residence of Henry VIII and his royal daughters. Here we are only concerned with the Great Hall, the Great Chamber, the Banqueting House, and the Cockpit, all four apartments being the scene of dramatic entertainments. Proof of at least one of Shakespeare’s plays being presented at Whitehall will be found on the title page of the authentic quarto of “King Lear”:
“M. William Shakespeare,
“His True Chronicle History of the life and death of King Lear and his three daughters. As it was played before the King’s Majestie at Whitehall upon St. Stephen’s night in Christmas Hollidays. By his Majestie’s servants playing usually at the Globe, on the Bankside, 1608.”
From documentary evidence there is proof that several of Shakespeare’s plays were acted at this palace, including “Othello,” “Measure for Measure,” “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” “The Winter’s Tale,” and others by the same dramatist, besides over a hundred performances of plays by various authors. These plays were produced in the magnificent structure called the Great Hall, which was a hundred feet in length and about forty in breadth. The roof was elaborately decorated, and from it hung eight large chandeliers and eight smaller ones, each containing fifteen lights. The scene on these occasions was one of great splendour, and those that witnessed it were considered exceptionally fortunate, as only those whom the King delighted to honour were invited.
Plays were sometimes presented in the Great Chamber, a building of large dimensions. This room was often chosen on account of its great warmth, and also its being better adapted for presenting plays than the Great Hall. The Banqueting House, in which Shakespeare’s plays were given, was built by Queen Elizabeth; its length was 150 feet, the walls were of wood, with lath and plaster between. The roof, supported by thirty principals, was ceiled with canvas, and decorated most gorgeously with the emblems of the heavens. Externally the Hall presented the true Gothic type similar to those seen to-day at Hampton Court and Christ Church, Oxford. On each of the three sides, tiers of seats were erected for the audience, the fourth being reserved for the stage. The King and Queen sat on thrones facing the stage, a clear way of vision being kept in direct line with the actors. The performances were always given at night, contrasting very vividly with the afternoon representation at the Globe and other public theatres. This beautiful building was destroyed by fire. The existing Banqueting House was built in the reign of Charles I; many of Shakespeare’s plays were performed in this building before the King and Queen. From this fatal room King Charles was led forth to execution on January 30th, 1649. The celebrated architect, Inigo Jones, was the designer of this noble edifice, one of the few remaining buildings of this great architect which exist to adorn this great city.
The Palace of Whitehall. Reproduced with kind permission from a model by John B. Thorp, Esq.
