| Shoreditch was the venue for Londons first playhouse | | | | shout about. A second theatre called the Theatre |
| way back in 1576 and with name of The Theatre, the | | | | Royal of Drury Lane was designed by the famous |
| start of a magical history of London and West End | | | | Christopher Wren and opened on the same site in |
| Theatre was born. Before The Theatre at Shoreditch | | | | 1674. The Royal survived for 120 years which was |
| plays and actments were performed at random | | | | along time in those days and along with other theatres |
| venues such as private homes, courtyards and inn | | | | that were built in the same locality such as Theatre |
| yards all across London. In 1597 and after the lease | | | | Royal Covent Garden (known as the the Royal Opera |
| had run out the owner of The Theatre, Richard | | | | House) and the Haymarket the West end theatres of |
| Burbage decided to up sticks and move the timbers | | | | London were evolved. |
| across the river Thames to build the first (of an | | | | David Garrick was the legendary manager of the |
| industrious three) Globe Theatres to the South Bank. | | | | Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He arrived in London in |
| The famous Globe opened to the public in 1599 with | | | | 1737 as a wine seller but was soon to be mesmerised |
| Burbage pioneering the way with his own | | | | by the attraction of theatre. In 1741 he played the |
| performance company. (Burbage was to instantly to | | | | famous role of Shakespeares Richard III and over the |
| propel himself as the first of Londons great actor and | | | | next 20-30 years he had a massive impact on London |
| impressios. He also honours the famous claim to be | | | | theatre. His work is remembered today through the |
| the very first man to play the role of Hamlet, King Lear | | | | Garrick Club and the Garrick Theatre. |
| and Othello). | | | | The modern theatre scene in the West End was |
| It was not until 1663 that the first London West End | | | | largely influenced in the 19th century when many of the |
| venue was opened, when the very first of many was | | | | beautiful theatre buildings that are still around today |
| built in Drury Lane. This famous old theatre hosted the | | | | were built and all of a sudden theatre going was the |
| earliest West End stars such as Charles Hart and Nell | | | | latest fashion trend of the middle and upper classes in |
| Gwyn until tragically, it was destroyed by fire in 1672. | | | | London. Shaftesbury Avenue was created towards |
| With new found hunger for Theatres it was not long | | | | the end of 19th century and many theatres were soon |
| before the residents of London had a new theatre to | | | | built on this focal point for London theatre. |