The Earls of Derby and Shakespearean Theatre from 1580 to the present day
In this episode, I discuss with Professor Elspeth Graham and Dr Vanessa Wilkie the links our family had with travelling troupes of players like the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the Queen’s Men, and in particular Lord Strange’s Men (the Stanley family’s Barony of Strange - was the source of the courtesy title of the eldest son of the Earls of Derby at that period; it changed to Lord Stanley of Bickerstaffe later in the 18th century).
We discuss the fact that there was an original wooden playhouse in Prescot. This was documented as having been constructed and used as a commercial performance space between around 1595 and 1609 (crucially, after the serious outbreak of the bubonic plague led to the closure of the theatres in London from 1592-4). Living history really is happening in present day Prescot, our local town just outside Liverpool. The new Shakespeare North Playhouse was conceived as an idea in 2004 to mark Liverpool being European Capital of Culture in 2008. A £40 million fundraising campaign led to the construction of the new playhouse, which opened to great critical acclaim in July 2022. This replica of the 17th-century cockpit theatre was built by Peter McCurdy (renowned for his work on the Globe and the Sam Wanamaker theatres in London) while the modern surrounding building was designed by architect Nicholas Helm. It is literally spine-tingling to sit in this new theatre in the round and watch world-class Shakespearean performances enacted by actors over 400 years after the original plays were first performed.
Above: The Shakespeare North Playhouse
The Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot completes the Shakespearean triangle of theatres, joining the other two famous theatres at Stratford upon Avon (the Royal Shakespeare Company) and in London (the Globe). You can see what an extraordinary asset the Prescot Playhouse is to the North of England by looking online (www.shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk) and hopefully you will be able to come and see your favourite plays at this wonderful new theatre in the future. Do come, as seeing really is believing.
I do hope you enjoy listening to this episode. Listen in here.