108-666: The City Madam is a Caroline era comedy written by Philip Massinger . It was licensed by Sir Henry Herbert , the Master of the Revels , on 25 May 1632 and was acted by the King's Men at the Blackfriars Theatre . It was printed in quarto in 1658 by the stationer Andrew Pennycuicke , who identified himself as "one of the Actors" in the play. A second edition followed in 1659. Pennycuicke dedicated
216-526: A Satanic ritual (Indians were supposed to worship the devil in Jacobean England). Master Luke agrees to send them to Virginia to be sacrificed in a Satanic ritual. He then receives his apprentices' fathers, Goldwire Senior and Tradewell Senior, but asks from them a prohibitive sum of money to take their sons back into his service. Sir John Frugal finally reveals his true identity and restores order. He wants his brother Luke to be sent to Virginia to atone for
324-594: A celebration of 'Shakespeare as the world's playwright' working with UK and international arts organisations, and including the Globe to Globe Festival by Shakespeare's Globe. The same year, planning permission was granted by Stratford District Council to reinstate The Other Place . Funding for the new theatre came from a £3 million grant from the Arts Council England, raised through the National Lottery. Funding
432-553: A church governed by bishops, appointed by, and answerable to, the king; Puritans believed he was answerable to the leaders of the church, appointed by their congregations. The Caroline period was one of intense debate over religious practice and liturgy. While the Church of Scotland , or kirk, was overwhelmingly Presbyterian , the position in England was more complex. ' Puritan ' was a general term for anyone who wanted to reform, or 'purify',
540-528: A combination of artistic excellence and quiet husbandry, including a year-long Complete Works of Shakespeare Festival (begun in April 2006 in collaboration with other theatre companies) plus a financially successful London season at the Novello Theatre in 2006, Boyd slowly rebuilt the company's fortunes and reputation In 2007 he launched the long-awaited Stratford theatre redevelopments, including construction of
648-428: A country gentleman. They feel ridiculed and complain to Sir John Frugal about his wife and daughters' vanity and pretentiousness. Lady Frugal is angry towards her astrologer, Stargaze, who had predicted a great day for marriages. Shave'em the whore is visited by two of her customers, Ramble and Scuffle, but she rejects them, pretending that she has become a lady. Both men laugh at her and when Shave'em threatens them with
756-1013: A knife, Ramble draws his sword. Goldwire comes to her rescue dressed up as a Justice of the Peace accompanied by Shave'em's procurer, Ding'em, disguised as a constable, and musicians disguised as watchmen. The characters then learn from Lord Lacy that Master John Frugal has left his house to go to a monastery and that he has bestowed all his goods to his brother Luke, who is surprised by such a reversal of fortune. Lord Lacy also tells Luke that his brother has requested him to welcome in his house some Indians from Virginia whom he could convert to Christianity. Sir John Frugal, Sir Maurice Lacy, and Plenty, painted and disguised as Indians and talking gibberish, are then introduced to Master Luke. All of John Frugal's former debtors come back to Master Luke and tell him they might soon be able to pay him back. Master Luke says that he will give money to both apprentices Goldwire and Tradewell and implies that he would like to meet Shave'em. He
864-463: A local brewer, Charles Edward Flower. He donated a 2-acre (0.81 ha) site by the River Avon and in 1875 launched an international campaign to build a theatre in the town of Shakespeare's birth. The theatre, a Victorian-Gothic building seating just over 700 people, opened on 23 April 1879, with a performance of Much Ado About Nothing , a title which gave ammunition to several critics. The Memorial,
972-534: A long time because of plague in 1638–39, although after the Long Parliament officially closed them for good in 1642, private performances continued, and at some periods public ones. In other forms of literature, and especially in drama, the Caroline period was a diminished continuation of the trends of the previous two reigns. In the specialized domain of literary criticism and theory, Henry Reynolds ' Mythomystes
1080-530: A minimalist set at The Other Place, playing for 2 hours 15 minutes without an interval. The small, nearly round stage focused attention on the psychological dynamics of the characters. Both Ian McKellen in the title role and Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth received exceptionally favourable reviews. The production transferred to London, opening at the Donmar Warehouse in September 1977 before its further transfer to
1188-594: A monumental, year-round operation built around a permanent company, a London base and contemporary work from home and abroad. Looking back, it is difficult to realise just how radical Hall's dream was at the time; or indeed how much opposition there was to the creation of what became officially known in March 1961 as the Royal Shakespeare Company." John Barton had been appointed associate director in January 1960, and
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#17328561617721296-636: A new suite of education spaces on Waterside. In 2011, BP began to subsidised the RSC's £5 ticket scheme for 16 to 25-year-olds. In summer 2011 the company undertook a residency in Park Avenue Armory , New York, running a series of performances and an accompanying education programme in partnership with the NYC Department of Education . In 2012, the RSC produced the World Shakespeare Festival,
1404-452: A plan for what would become The Other Place studio theatre in Stratford, designed by Michael Reardon to seat 140 people, which opened to a first and highly successful season in 1974. The name chosen for the new studio space was favoured within the company because it implied an alternative theatre, but also because it is a quotation from Hamlet . In August 1976, Nunn staged Macbeth with
1512-470: A primary objective. David Addenbrooke wrote of Hall's belief that Shakespeare, more than any other dramatist, needed a 'style', a tradition and unity of direction and acting. On 14 January 1960, Hall's first policy statement as director also proposed the acquisition of a second theatre, in London, to be used as a city outlet for selected Stratford productions. The RSC was formally established on 20 March 1961 with
1620-521: A production of The Two Noble Kinsmen by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher (not published until 1634 and thought to be Shakespeare's last work for the stage). It was directed by Barry Kyle . The RSC's costume department is 'the largest in-house costume-making workshop in British theatre' and 'world-renowned'. In 2021, the RSC raised over £8 million for a project to update the costume and prop department. Alistair McArthur, head of costume, called
1728-494: A radical scheme aimed at rescuing the RSC from its financial crisis by replacing the Royal Shakespeare Theatre with a crowd-pleasing 'Shakespeare Village' and streamlining the company's performance structure and ensemble principle. None of Noble's plans came to fruition. He left the job, an unhappy man, in March 2003. Michael Boyd then assumed control of the RSC, now burdened with a deficit of £2.8 million. By
1836-514: A red brick Gothic cathedral, designed by Dodgshun and Unsworth of Westminster , was unkindly described by Bernard Shaw as "an admirable building, adaptable to every purpose except that of a theatre." From 1919, under the direction of William Bridges-Adams and after a slow start, its resident New Shakespeare Company became one of the most prestigious in Britain. The theatre received a royal charter of Incorporation in 1925, which gave it status. On
1944-535: A riot of decoration, as carpenters and stuccoists were given their head. Raynham Hall in Norfolk (1630s), where the origins of the design have been much discussed, also features large and proud gable ends, but in a far more restrained fashion, that reflects Italian influence, by whatever route it came. Following the execution of Charles I, the Palladian designs advocated by Inigo Jones were too closely associated with
2052-402: A single year, 1631. Thomas Harriot 's Artis analyticae praxis , published ten years posthumously, and William Oughtred 's Clavis mathematicae . Both contributed to the evolution of modern mathematical language; the former introduced the × {\displaystyle \times } sign for multiplication and (::) sign for proportion. In philosophy, Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679)
2160-538: A small auditorium in 1971. At the insistence of Sir Trevor Nunn (who had taken over as artistic director in 1968), the company hired The Place off the Euston Road in London and constructed its own theatre space for an audience of 330, seated on raked wooden benches. Two seasons of plays were staged in 1972 and 1973, none suitable for the Aldwych. In December 1973 Buzz Goodbody , the company's first female director, drew up
2268-483: A unified, Presbyterian church of England and Scotland. However, it soon became clear such a proposal would not be approved, even by the Puritan dominated Long Parliament , and it was abandoned in 1647. King James I (reigned 1603–1625) was sincerely devoted to peace, not just for his three kingdoms, but for Europe as a whole. Europe was deeply polarised, and on the verge of the massive Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), with
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#17328561617722376-534: A way of promoting his elevated view of the monarchy. His collection reflected his aesthetic tastes, which contrasted with the systematic acquisition of a wide range of objects that was typical of contemporary German and Habsburg princes. By his death, he had amassed about 1,760 paintings, including works by Titian , Raphael and Correggio among others. Charles commissioned the ceiling of the Banqueting House, Whitehall from Rubens and paintings by artists from
2484-477: Is announced. July 2006 – The Courtyard Theatre opens with a staging of Michael Boyd's Histories. November 2010 – The Royal Shakespeare and Swan Theatres re-open following their transformation. March 2016 – The Other Place was reinstated as a 200-seat studio theatre. In 1959, while still the director-designate of the Memorial Theatre, Peter Hall announced that the formation of a permanent company would be
2592-411: Is employed there as an under-apprentice, a mere servant who is scorned by Sir John Frugal's wife, Lady Frugal, the eponymous city madam, and her two daughters Anne and Mary. Frugal's apprentices, Goldwire Junior and Tradewell Junior, both pity poor Master Luke. John Frugal's debtors, Hoist, Fortune and Penury, come to his house to ask for his clemency and with the help of Luke Frugal, who waxes lyrical on
2700-555: Is the sole British member theatre of the Union of the Theatres of Europe . In March 2008, the RSC launched a manifesto 'Stand up for Shakespeare', a campaign to promote a positive experience of Shakespeare for children and young people. The tenets of this manifesto, Do It on Your Feet, See It Live, Start It Earlier form the basis of the work of the Education department. In 2010, the RSC opened
2808-441: Is welcomed as a munificent benefactor among them. Goldwire even proposes to procure Shave'em to him. But Master Luke reveals his plot by having Shave'em, Ding'em, the apprentices and his debtors all arrested. He treats Lady Frugal and her daughters with disdain and obliges them to wear coarse clothes in order to teach them humility. Sir John, disguised as an Indian, proposes to his brother to sacrifice Lady Frugal and her daughters in
2916-566: The Barbican Centre under the auspices of the City of London. The RSC was closely involved in the design of these two venues. In 2002 it left the Barbican after a series of allegedly poor seasons, partly because the then artistic director Adrian Noble wanted to develop the company's touring performances. His decision means the company has no regular London home. The RSC had first tackled its need for
3024-505: The Church of England , and contained many different sects. Presbyterians were the most prominent, particularly in Parliament , but there were many others, such as Congregationalists , often grouped together as Independents . Close links between religion and politics added further complexity; bishops sat in the House of Lords , where they often blocked Parliamentary legislation. Although Charles
3132-642: The Jacobean era , the reign of Charles's father James I & VI (1603–1625), overlapped with the English Civil War (1642–1651), and was followed by the English Interregnum until The Restoration in 1660. It should not be confused with the Carolean era , which refers to the reign of Charles I's son King Charles II . The Caroline era was dominated by growing religious, political, and social discord between
3240-623: The Louvre of Charles dismounted: "Charles is given a totally natural look of instinctive sovereignty, in a deliberately informal setting where he strolls so negligently that he seems at first glance nature's gentleman rather than England's King". Although he established the classic " Cavalier " style and dress, a majority of his most important patrons took the Parliamentarian side in the English Civil War that broke out soon after his death. Upon his death in 1641, van Dyke's position as portraitist to
3348-530: The Personal Rule . There was no money for war so peace was essential. Without the means in the foreseeable future to raise funds from Parliament for a European war, or the help of Buckingham, Charles made peace with France and Spain. Lack of funds for war, and internal conflict between the king and Parliament led to a redirection of English involvement in European affairs – much to the dismay of Protestant forces on
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3456-591: The River Thames at Blackfriars , and a suite of rooms in Eltham Palace . His Blackfriars studio was frequently visited by the King and Queen, who hardly sat for another painter while van Dyck lived. Van Dyck undertook a large series of portraits of the King and Queen Henrietta Maria , as well as their children and some courtiers. Many were completed in several versions and used as diplomatic gifts or given to supporters of
3564-421: The closing of the theatres in 1642 . Sir Henry Herbert as (in theory) deputy Master of the Revels , was a dominant figure, in the 1630s often causing trouble for the two leading companies, the King's Men , whose patronage Charles had inherited from his father, and Queen Henrietta's Men , formed in 1625, partly from earlier companies under the patronage of Charles' mother and sister. The theatres were closed for
3672-453: The English court, he assisted King Charles's agents in their search for pictures. Van Dyck also sent back some of his own works and had painted Charles's sister, Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia , at The Hague in 1632. Van Dyck was knighted and given a pension of £200 a year, in a grant in which he was described as principalle Paynter in ordinary to their majesties . He was provided with a house on
3780-570: The King & Country Tour. The same year, the Royal Shakespeare Company also opened their first permanent exhibition, entitled The Play's The Thing. On 23 April 2016, the RSC performed a one night extravaganza, called 'Shakespeare Live!'. Broadcast on BBC Two from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, it marked the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's Death. It involved a collection of Shakespeare scenes and monologues with appearances from David Tennant , Catherine Tate , Dame Judi Dench , Benedict Cumberbatch and even one from Prince Charles . In June 2019,
3888-560: The King and his supporters, termed the Royalist party, and the Parliamentarian opposition that evolved in response to particular aspects of Charles's rule. While the Thirty Years' War was raging in continental Europe, Britain had an uneasy peace, growing more restless as the civil conflict between the King and the supporters of Parliament worsened. Despite the friction between King and Parliament dominating society, there were developments in
3996-629: The Low Countries such as Gerard van Honthorst and Daniel Mytens . In 1628, he bought the collection that the Duke of Mantua was forced to sell. In 1632, the peripatetic king visited Spain, where he sat for a portrait by Diego Velázquez , although the picture is now lost. As king he worked to entice leading foreign painters to London for longer or shorter spells. In 1626, he was able to persuade Orazio Gentileschi to settle in England, later to be joined by his daughter Artemisia and some of his sons. Rubens
4104-550: The Macrocosm and Microcosm ), which was followed in 1629 and 1631 by the two-part medical text Medicina Catholica . Fludd's last major work would be the posthumously published Philosophia Moysaica . The revolution in thinking that connects Sir Francis Bacon (1561–1626) with the foundation of the Royal Society (1660) was ongoing throughout the Caroline period; Bacon's New Atlantis was first printed in 1627, and contributed to
4212-632: The Motion of the Heart and Blood in Living Beings"). Its reception was highly critical and hostile; but within a generation his work began to receive the valuation it deserved. Countering medical progress, the occultist Robert Fludd continued his series of enormous and convoluted volumes of esoteric lore, begun during the previous reign. In 1626 appeared his Philosophia Sacra (which constituted Portion IV of Section I of Tractate II of Volume II of Fludd's History of
4320-635: The Palatine, and James's son-in-law begged for James's military intervention. James finally realised his policies had backfired and refused these pleas. He successfully kept Britain out of the European-wide war that proved so heavily devastating for three decades. James's backup plan was to marry his son Charles to a French Catholic princess, who would bring a handsome dowry. Parliament and the British people were strongly opposed to any Catholic marriage, were demanding immediate war with Spain, and strongly favored with
4428-482: The Pequot tribe. The highest standards of the arts and architecture all flourished under the patronage of the King, although drama slipped from the previous Shakespearean age. All the arts were greatly impacted by the enormous political and religious controversies, and the degree to which they were themselves influential is a matter of ongoing debate among scholars. Patrick Collinson argues that an emerging Puritan community
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4536-503: The Protestant cause in Europe. James had alienated both elite and popular opinion in Britain, and Parliament was cutting back its financing. Historians credit James for pulling back from a major war at the last minute, and keeping Britain in peace. Charles trusted Buckingham, who made himself rich in the process but proved a failure at foreign and military policy. Charles I gave him command of
4644-452: The RSC commissioned a completely new edition of Shakespeare's First Folio, titled " William Shakespeare Complete Works" and published by Modern Library . To provide balance, Simon Trowbridge in A Royal Shakespeare Company Book , published in 2017, is highly critical of aspects of the Boyd years, including his decision to redevelop the Royal Shakespeare Theatre as a second Swan Theatre. The RSC
4752-515: The RSC to take over from Hands as artistic director and chief executive. The company had serious funding problems. Noble's decision to sever all RSC connections with the Barbican Centre, funded by the Corporation of the City of London, was widely condemned, and towards the end of his tenure things began to go terribly wrong, partly through his pursuit and support of the so-called Project Fleet ,
4860-404: The RSC when the company opened The Swan , its third theatre in Stratford. The Swan Theatre, also designed by Michael Reardon , has a deep thrust stage and a galleried, intimate 450-capacity auditorium. The space was to be dedicated to playing the works of Shakespeare's contemporaries, the works of European writers and the occasional work of Shakespeare. The theatre was launched on 8 May 1986 with
4968-537: The Roman Catholic 2nd Baron Baltimore who wanted to realise his father's ambition of founding a colony where Catholic's could live in harmony alongside Protestants. Unlike the royal charter granted for Carolina to Robert Heath, the Maryland charter decreed no stipulations regarding future settlers' religious beliefs. Therefore, it was assumed that Catholics would be able live unmolested in the new colony. The new colony
5076-429: The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Terry Hands and actor Alan Howard had a marathon year working on Henry V , a virtually uncut, Henry VI, part 1 , Henry VI, part 2 and Henry VI, part 3 and Coriolanus . And the action at The Other Place included Jonson, Ford, Musset, Gems and Rudkin. No other company in the world could match that output for quantity and quality". Nunn and Hands were joint artistic directors of
5184-637: The UK and internationally. The company's home is in Stratford-upon-Avon, where it has redeveloped its Royal Shakespeare and Swan theatres as part of a £112.8-million "Transformation" project. The theatres re-opened in November 2010, having closed in 2007. As well as the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, the RSC produces new work from living artists. There have been theatrical performances in Stratford-upon-Avon since at least Shakespeare's day, though
5292-670: The Younger of Massachusetts received a commission to create Saybrook Colony at the mouth of the Connecticut River in 1635. Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company ( RSC ) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon , Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and opens around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London , Stratford-upon-Avon, and on tour across
5400-465: The actor Mark Rylance resigned from the RSC over its sponsorship deal with oil company BP . In October 2019, the RSC announced that it would be ending its partnership with BP at the end of year following criticism of its association with the oil company. A week before, school students threatened to boycott the theatre company if it did not sever links with the firm. A spokesperson for the RSC explained that "Young people are now saying clearly to us that
5508-591: The afternoon of 6 March 1926, when a new season was about to commence rehearsals, smoke was seen. Fire broke out, and the mass of half-timbering chosen to ornament the interior provided dry tinder. By the following morning the theatre was a blackened shell. The company transferred its Shakespeare festivals to a converted local cinema. Fund-raising began for the rebuilding of the theatre, with generous donations arriving from philanthropists in America . In January 1928, following an open competition, 29-year-old Elisabeth Scott
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#17328561617725616-507: The ancients, and most poems "celebrate beauty, love, nature, sensuality, drinking, good fellowship, honor, and social life". Cavalier poets wrote in a way that promoted seizing the day and the opportunities presented to them and their kinsmen. They wanted to revel in society and come to be the best that they possibly could within the bounds of that society. Living life to the fullest, for cavalier writers, often included gaining material wealth and having sex with women. These themes contributed to
5724-554: The arts and sciences. The period also saw the colonisation of North America with the foundation of new colonies between 1629 and 1636 in Carolina , Maryland , Connecticut and Rhode Island . Development of colonies in Virginia , Massachusetts , and Newfoundland also continued. In Massachusetts, the Pequot War of 1637 was the first major armed conflict between the people of New England and
5832-583: The arts, cavalier poetry aims to express the joys and celebrations in a much livelier way than did its predecessors. The intent was often to promote the crown, and they often spoke outwardly against the Roundheads. Most cavalier works had allegorical or classical references, drawing on knowledge of Horace, Cicero, and Ovid. By using these resources they were able to produce poetry that impressed King Charles I. The cavalier poets strove to create poetry where both pleasure and virtue thrived. They were rich in reference to
5940-543: The benefits of charity, they convince him into granting them a new delay to pay him back. Luke then convinces his brother's apprentices to steal from their master by forging his accounts. They agree to cheat him out of his money because they would like to become city gallants. Goldwire Junior has an affair with a prostitute called Shave'em and wants to buy clothes for her by swindling his master. Encouraged by their haughty mother, Lady Frugal, both Anne and Mary reject their suitors Sir Maurice Lacy, son of Lord Lacy, and Mr. Plenty,
6048-472: The brunt of media hostility during a difficult few years for the company. Hands took the decision to suspend the RSC's residency at The Barbican Theatre and The Pit during the winter season of 1990–91, thus vacating the capital for the first time in 30 years. This was seen as essential if the RSC was to secure an increase in subsidy from the Arts Council. Shortly after that decision Adrian Noble returned to
6156-399: The colony. However, of the approximately 200 initial settlers who travelled to Maryland on the ships Ark and Dove, the majority were Protestant. The Roman Catholics, already a minority, led by a Jesuit Father Andrew White worked together with Protestants, under the patronage of Leonard Calvert , the 2nd Lord Baltimore's brother to create a new settlement, St. Mary's City . This became
6264-412: The comedies of Richard Brome have gained in critical recognition. The peculiar artistic form of the court masque was still being written and performed. A masque involved music and dancing, singing and acting, within an elaborate stage design , in which the architectural framing and costumes might be designed by a renowned architect, often Inigo Jones , to present a deferential allegory flattering to
6372-513: The company's sole Artistic Director and Chief Executive (in 1978 he began to share power with Terry Hands). In London, the company opened a new studio space at the Donmar Warehouse with plays by Barker, Taylor, Bond and Brecht. Its Aldwych repertory combined the usual Stratford transfers with Nichol 's Privates on Parade , Ibsen's Pillars of the Community and Brecht's The Days of the Commune . At
6480-508: The continent. This involved a continued reliance on the Anglo-Dutch brigade as the main agency of English military participation against the Habsburgs, although regiments also fought for Sweden thereafter. The determination of James I and Charles I to avoid involvement in the continental conflict appears in retrospect as one of the most significant, and most positive, aspects of their reigns. There
6588-431: The corporation and the Stratford theatre becomes 'Royal Shakespeare.' 1974 – The Other Place opened, created from a prefabricated former store/rehearsal room in Stratford. 1986 – The Swan Theatre opened, created from the shell of the 1879 Memorial Theatre. 1991 – Purpose-built new Other Place, designed by Michael Reardon, opens. September 2004 – The vision for the renewal of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre transformation
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#17328561617726696-711: The court of the late king to survive the turmoil of the Civil War. Following the Stuart restoration , Jones's Palladianism was eclipsed by the Baroque designs of such architects as William Talman and Sir John Vanbrugh , Nicholas Hawksmoor , and even Jones' pupil John Webb . Medicine saw a major step forward with the 1628 publication by William Harvey of his study of the circulatory system , Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus ("An Anatomical Exercise on
6804-425: The direction of Sir Barry Jackson in 1945, Anthony Quayle from 1948 to 1956 and Glen Byam Shaw 1957–1959, with an impressive roll-call of actors. Scott's building, with some minor adjustments to the stage, remained in constant use until 2007 when it was closed for a major refit of the interior. Timeline: 1932 – New Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opens, abutting the remains of the old. 1961 – Chartered name of
6912-571: The early years of the era saw numerous ships lost to Barbary pirates , in the pay of the Ottoman empire , whose prisoners became slaves. This extended to coastal raids, such as the taking of 60 people in August 1625 from Mount's Bay , Cornwall, and it is estimated that by 1626, 4,500 Britons were held in captivity in North Africa. Ships continued to be seized even in British waters, and by the 1640s, Parliament
7020-405: The estimated 80,000 emigrants from England, approximately 20,000 settled in North America, Where New England was most often the destination. The colonists to New England were mostly families with some education who were leading relatively prosperous lives in England. In 1629, King Charles granted his attorney-general, Sir Robert Heath , the Cape Fear region of what is now the United States. It
7128-538: The evolving new paradigm among receptive individuals. The men who would begin the Royal Society were for the most part still schoolboys and students in this period—though John Wilkins was already publishing early works of Copernican astronomy and science advocacy, The Discovery of a World in the Moon (1638) and A Discourse Concerning a New Planet (1640). Lacking formal scientific institutions and organisations, Caroline scientists, proto-scientists, and "natural philosophers" had to cluster in informal groups, often under
7236-492: The first capital of Maryland. Today, the city is considered the birthplace of religious freedom in the United States, with the earliest North American colonial settlement ever established with the specific mandate of being a haven for both Catholic and Protestant Christian faiths. Roman Catholics were, though, encouraged to be reticent regarding their faith in order not to cause discord with their Protestant neighbours. Religious tolerance continued to be an aspiration and in
7344-484: The first recorded performance of a play written by Shakespeare himself was in 1746 when Parson Joseph Greene, master of Stratford Grammar School, organised a charitable production to fund the restoration of Shakespeare's funerary monument . John Ward 's Birmingham -based company, the Warwickshire Company of Comedians , agreed to perform it. A surviving copy of the playbill records that the company performed Othello . The first building erected to commemorate Shakespeare
7452-551: The form of Palladianism , the most influential pioneer of the style was the Englishman Inigo Jones . Jones travelled throughout Italy with the 'Collector' Earl of Arundel, annotating his copy of Palladio's treatise, in 1613–1614. The "Palladianism" of Jones and his contemporaries and later followers was a style largely of facades, and the mathematical formulae dictating layout were not strictly applied. A handful of great country houses in England built between 1640 and 1680, such as Wilton House , are in this Palladian style. These follow
7560-507: The house shows "what a gulf there was between the taste of the Court and that of the City ." It features prominently the fancy quasi-classical gable ends that were a mark of the style. Other houses from the 1630s in the style are the "Dutch House", as it was known, now Kew Palace , Broome Park in Kent , Barnham Court in West Sussex , West Horsley Place and Slyfield Manor, the last two near Guildford . These are mainly in brick, apart from stone or wood mullions . The interiors often show
7668-406: The increasingly embattled king. Van Dyck's subjects appear relaxed and elegant but with an overarching air of authority, a tone that dominated English portrait painting until the end of the 18th century. Many of the portraits have lush landscape backgrounds. His portraits of Charles on horseback updated the grandeur of Titian's Emperor Charles V, but even more effective and original is his portrait in
7776-420: The larger Young Vic venue for a two-month season. It was also recorded for transmission by Thames Television . In 2004, members of the RSC voted Dench's performance the greatest by an actress in the history of the company. Summing up this triumphant period, The Guardian critic Michael Billington later wrote: "[In 1977] the RSC struck gold. This was, in fact, the perihelion of Trevor Nunn's ten-year reign as
7884-533: The leader of the widespread British demand for a war against Spain. Meanwhile, the Protestant princes looked to Britain, since it was the strongest of all the Protestant countries, to give military support for their cause. His son-in-law and daughter became king and queen of Bohemia, which outraged Vienna. The Thirty Years' War began in 1618, as the Habsburg Emperor ousted the new king and queen of Bohemia, and massacred their followers. Catholic Bavaria then invaded
7992-488: The main building contractor played a large part in the design. The most prominent of these, and also the leading native sculptor of the period, was the stonemason Nicholas Stone , who also worked with Inigo Jones. John Jackson (d. 1663) was based in Oxford , and made additions to various colleges there. The owner of Swakeleys House (1638), now on the edge of London, was a merchant who became Lord Mayor of London in 1640, and
8100-419: The military expedition against Spain in 1625. It was a total fiasco with many dying from disease and starvation. He led another disastrous military campaign in 1627. Buckingham was hated and the damage to the king's reputation was irreparable. England rejoiced when he was assassinated in 1628 by John Felton . The eleven years 1629–1640, during which Charles ruled England without a Parliament, are referred to as
8208-561: The old working space "Dickensian" and added, "If we knew there was rain coming we'd have to clear everything off the table the night before." The prop-makers design and make many of their own props for the many productions. A 'Prop Shop' in Stratford-upon-Avon is the studio in which most of the props are made. Nunn (who had been appointed to follow Hall's tenure at the National Theatre in 1968) ceded his RSC executive directorship in 1986 to his co-artistic director Terry Hands , who bore
8316-450: The other. Second, in a period dominated by the Thirty Years' War , it reflected concerns Charles was failing to support Protestant Europe, when it was under threat from Catholic powers. Charles worked closely with Archbishop William Laud (1573–1645) on remodelling the church, including preparation of a new Book of Common Prayer . Historians Kevin Sharpe and Julian Davies suggest Charles was
8424-440: The patron. Professional actors and musicians were hired for the speaking and singing parts. Often those acting, who did not speak or sing, were courtiers. In a strong contrast to Jacobean and Elizabethan theatre , seen by a very wide public, these were private performances in houses or palaces for a small court audience. The lavish expenditures on these showpiece masques – the production of a single masque could approach £15,000 –
8532-582: The plague and politics. It reflects on nature of poetry and prophecy, explores the fault lines in politics, and rejects tyranny of the sort the king was denounced for fostering. It warns about the wickedness of the times and prophesizes that disasters are about to befall the kingdom. Caroline theatre unquestionably saw a falling-off after the peak achievements of William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson , though some of their successors, especially Philip Massinger , James Shirley , and John Ford , carried on to create interesting, even compelling theatre. In recent years
8640-796: The play (Massinger was long dead) to Ann, Countess of Oxford—or at least most of the surviving copies bear a dedication to her; but others are dedicated to any one of four other individuals. No direct source for the play has been identified, other than Massinger's own earlier play, A New Way to Pay Old Debts , which was modelled on Thomas Middleton 's A Trick to Catch the Old One . Specific connections have been cited between The City Madam and Shakespeare's Measure for Measure (regarding Sir John Frugal's pretended absence and masquerade), Ben Jonson 's Volpone (Luke Frugal's rhapsodising over his wealth), and Rollo, Duke of Normandy (Stargaze's astrological verbiage), among other works. The City Madam
8748-504: The prime instigator of religious change, with Laud ensuring the appointment of key supporters, such as Roger Maynwaring and Robert Sibthorpe . Scottish resistance to Caroline reforms ended with the 1639 and 1640 Bishops Wars , which expelled bishops from the kirk, and established a Covenanter government. Following the 1643 Solemn League and Covenant , the English and Scots set up the Westminster Assembly , intending to create
8856-751: The province's first legislative assembly the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649 was passed, enshrining religious freedom in law. Later in the century, the Protestant Revolution put an end to Maryland's religious toleration, as Catholicism was outlawed. Religious toleration would not be restored in Maryland until after the American Revolution. The Connecticut Colony was originally a number of small settlements at Windsor, Wethersfield, Saybrook, Hartford, and New Haven. The first English settlers arrived in 1633 and settled at Windsor. John Winthrop
8964-538: The royal announcement that the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre would henceforth be known as the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the company as the Royal Shakespeare Company. The critic Michael Billington , summarising these events, wrote: "In 1960 the twenty-nine-year-old Peter Hall formally took charge at Stratford-upon-Avon and set about turning a star-laden, six-month Shakespeare festival into
9072-576: The royal family was filled, practically if not formally, by William Dobson (c. 1610–1646), who is known to have had access to the Royal Collection and copied works by Titian and van Dyck. Dobson was thus the most prominent native-born English artist of the era. The Classical architecture popular in Italy and France was introduced to Britain during the Caroline era; until then Renaissance architecture had largely passed Britain by. The style arrived in
9180-701: The smaller established Protestant states facing the aggression of the larger Catholic empires. The Catholics in Spain, as well as the Emperor Ferdinand II , the Vienna-based leader of the Habsburgs and head of the Holy Roman Empire, were both heavily influenced by the Catholic Counter-Reformation . They had the goal of expelling Protestantism from their domains. Charles inherited a weak navy and
9288-522: The social and financial patronage of a sympathetic aristocrat. This again was an old phenomenon: a precedent in the prior reigns of Elizabeth and James can be identified in the circle that revolved around the "Wizard Earl" of Northumberland . Caroline scientists often clustered similarly. These ad hoc associations led to a decline in mystical philosophies popular at the time, such as alchemy and astrology , Neoplatonism and Kabbalah and sympathetic magic . In mathematics, two major works were published in
9396-609: The sole subsidised company operating in London. Following a deal with Prince Littler , managing director of Associated Theatre Properties, the RSC established the Aldwych Theatre as its London base for productions transferred from Stratford to London, its stage redesigned to match the RST's apron stage. Twenty years later, in the summer of 1982, the company took up London residence in both the Barbican Theatre and The Pit studio space in
9504-743: The success of Jones' Palladian designs for the Queen's House at Greenwich and the Banqueting House at Whitehall (the residence of English monarchy from 1530 to 1698), and the uncompleted royal palace in London of Charles I. Jones's St Paul's, Covent Garden (1631) was the first completely new English church since the Reformation, and an imposing transcription of the Tuscan order as described by Vitruvius – in effect Early Roman or Etruscan architecture . Possibly "nowhere in Europe had this literal primitivism been attempted", according to Sir John Summerson . Jones
9612-652: The temporary Courtyard Theatre while work was in progress, designed to house his RSC Histories cycle before its transfer to the Roundhouse in London in 2008. Talking of these achievements with typical modesty he told the Evening Standard in December 2007 ('The Man Who Remade the RSC'): "There was a bit of gardening to do, but we are now beginning to show signs of walking the walk." 'The Histories' ensemble went on to win three Olivier awards in 2009. In addition, that same year
9720-448: The triumphant and boisterous tone and attitude of the poetry. Platonic love was also another characteristic of cavalier poetry, where the man would show his divine love for a woman, and where she would be worshipped as a creature of perfection. George Wither (1588–1667) was a prolific poet, pamphleteer, satirist and writer of hymns. He is best known for "Britain's Remembrancer" of 1625, with its wide range of contemporary topics including
9828-495: The wrongs that he has done. The play is not often performed, but it was part of the 2011 season of the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon in a production directed by Dominic Hill. Caroline era The Caroline era is the period in English and Scottish history named for the 24-year reign of Charles I (1625–1649). The term is derived from Carolus , Latin for Charles. The Caroline era followed
9936-399: Was David Garrick 's Jubilee Pavilion in 1769, and there have been at least 17 buildings used to perform Shakespeare's plays since. The first permanent commemorative building to Shakespeare's works in the town was a theatre built in 1827, in the gardens of New Place, but has long since been demolished. The RSC's history began with the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, which was the brainchild of
10044-467: Was a figure of the court, and most commissions for large houses during the reign were built in a style for which Summerson's name " Artisan Mannerism " has been widely accepted. This was a development of Jacobean architecture led by a group of mostly London-based craftsmen still active in their guilds (called livery companies in London). Often the names of the architects or designers are uncertain, and often
10152-481: Was a particular target: eventually in 1630 he came on a diplomatic mission that included painting, and he later sent Charles more paintings from Antwerp. Rubens was very well treated during his nine-month visit, during which he was knighted. Charles's court portraitist was Daniël Mijtens . Anthony van Dyck (appointed "painter to the king," 1633–1641) was a dominant influence. Often in Antwerp, but closely in touch with
10260-694: Was a small naval Anglo-French War (1627–1629) , in which the England supported the French Huguenots against King Louis XIII of France. During 1600–1650 England made repeated efforts to colonise Guiana in South America. They all failed and the lands (Surinam) were ceded to the Dutch in 1667. Between 1620 and 1643, religious dissatisfaction, mostly from Puritans and those opposed to the King's purported Catholic leanings, led to large scale voluntary emigration, which later came to be known as The Great Migration . Of
10368-568: Was adapted into a version titled A Cure for Pride in 1675. The original version may have been revived in 1771, and was definitely performed in 1783 at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane . A play founded on The City Madam , entitled Riches; or, The Wife and Brother , by Sir James Bland Burges, was brought out with success at the Lyceum in 1810. Sir John Frugal is a merchant whose brother, Luke Frugal, has been to prison and has no money left. Out of charity, Sir John Frugal has invited him to live in his house. Luke
10476-432: Was already writing some of his works and evolving his key concepts, though they were not in print until after the end of the Caroline era. Regardless of religious doctrine or political belief, the vast majority in all three kingdoms believed a 'well-ordered' monarchy was divinely mandated. They disagreed on what 'well-ordered' meant, and who held ultimate authority in clerical affairs. Episcopalians generally supported
10584-925: Was also received from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation , The Backstage Trust, and from public donations; this is the final phase of the Transformation project. Live from Stratford-upon-Avon, a new project to broadcast the company's productions in cinemas around the world and stream them into schools was announced in May 2013. The project began with Shakespeare's Richard II , starring David Tennant , in November 2013, and followed up with Henry IV parts 1 and 2 and The Two Gentlemen of Verona in 2014. In February 2016, Artistic Director Gregory Doran's productions of Henry IV Part I and Henry IV Part II , and Henry V went on tour in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong as part of
10692-629: Was deliberately vague about its border with Virginia. Charles rejected all the Dutch claims on the Atlantic seaboard and wanted to maintain English claims by formally occupying the territory. Lord Baltimore sought both Catholic and Protestant settlers for Maryland, often enticing them with large grants of land and a promise of religious toleration. The new colony also used the headright system , which originated in Jamestown , whereby settlers were given 50 acres (20 ha) of land for each person they brought into
10800-478: Was firmly Protestant , even among those who supported Episcopalianism, many opposed the High church rituals he sought to impose in England and Scotland. Often seen as essentially Catholic , these caused widespread suspicion and mistrust. Genuinely felt, there were a number of reasons for this; first, close links between 17th century religion and politics meant alterations in one were often viewed as implying alterations in
10908-523: Was followed in 1962 by Michel Saint-Denis , Peter Brook and Clifford Williams who joined the company as resident directors. John Bury was appointed head of design in 1964. The repertoire was also widened to take in modern work and classics other than Shakespeare. In 1962, strong opposition to the establishment of a London base for the RSC came from the Royal National Theatre which – led by Viscount Chandos and Laurence Olivier – wished to be
11016-623: Was highly suspicious of the fine arts. Edward Chaney argues that Catholic patrons and professionals were quite numerous and greatly influenced the direction of the arts. The Caroline period saw the flourishing of the cavalier poets (including Thomas Carew , Richard Lovelace , and John Suckling ) and the metaphysical poets (including George Herbert , Henry Vaughan , Katherine Philips ), movements that produced figures like John Donne , Robert Herrick and John Milton . Cavalier poetry differs from traditional poetry in subject matter. Instead of tackling issues such as religion, philosophy and
11124-486: Was incorporated as the Province of Carolana , named in honour of the King. Heath attempted and failed to populate the province, but lost interest and eventually sold it to Lord Maltravers . The first permanent settlers to Carolina arrived during the reign of Charles II, who issued a new charter. In 1632, King Charles I granted a charter for Maryland , a proprietary colony of about twelve million acres (49,000 km ), to
11232-569: Was named after the devoutly Catholic Henrietta Maria of France , Charles I's wife and Queen Consort. Whatever the King's reason for granting the colony to Baltimore, it suited his strategic policies to have a colony north of the Potomac in 1632. The colony of New Netherland begun by England's great imperial rival, the Dutch United Provinces , which claimed the Delaware River valley and
11340-623: Was one of a growing number of grievances that critics in general, and the Parliamentarians in particular, held against the King and his court. The conventional theatre in London also continued the Jacobean trend of moving to smaller, more intimate, but also more expensive venues, performing in front of a much narrower social range. The only new London theatre in the reign seems to have been the Salisbury Court Theatre , open from 1629 until
11448-522: Was passing measures to raise money to ransom hostages from the Turks. The Duke of Buckingham (1592–1628), who increasingly was the actual ruler of Britain, wanted an alliance with Spain. Buckingham took Charles with him to Spain to woo the Infanta in 1623. However, Spain's terms were that James must drop Britain's anti-Catholic intolerance or no marriage. Buckingham and Charles were humiliated and Buckingham became
11556-456: Was published in 1632, in which the author attempts a systematic application of Neoplatonism to poetry. The result has been characterized as "a tropical forest of strange fancies" and "perversities of taste." Charles I can be compared to King Henry VIII and King George III as a highly influential royal collector; he was by far the keenest collector of art of all the Stuart kings. He saw painting as
11664-517: Was unanimously appointed architect for the new theatre which became the first important work erected in the United Kingdom from the designs of a female architect. George Bernard Shaw commented that her design was the only one that showed any theatre sense. Her modernist plans for an art deco structure came under fire from many directions but the new building was opened triumphantly on William Shakespeare 's birthday, 23 April 1932. Later it came under
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