Crosskey's Inn - Bell Inn Yard, London, UK
N 51° 30.750 W 000° 05.090
30U E 702274 N 5710848
The Cross Keys Inn one of the Famous London Inns which was used as a venue for Elizabethan plays and theatre prior to the opening of Playhouses and purpose built Elizabethan Amphitheatres in London such as the Globe Theatre.
Waymark Code: WMBX7X
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 06/30/2011
Views: 4
The known facts about the Cross Keys Inn, which was used as one of the venues for early English Elizabethan Theatre, are as follows:
London Location of the Cross Keys Inn - Gracechurch Street, London
Elizabethan plays were performed in the courtyards of the Cross Keys Inn - 1576 - 1594
William Shakespeare's acting troupe, the Chamberlain's Men, used the Cross Keys Inn theatre on a regular basis due to the restrictions played on play acting within the City of London limits
The Elizabethan Acting Troupes would negotiate with the owner, or vintner, of the Cross Keys Inn in order to stage a performance at the Cross Keys Inn
The Cobbled Courtyard of the Cross Keys Inn was the site of Elizabethan plays - a temporary stage would be erected on trestles
People who wanted to watch the plays at the Cross Keys Inn were charged a small fee as they entered the courtyard - they had to pay extra if they wanted a view from the balcony!
In 1574 the City of London started regulating the Inn-yard activities which lead to the development of the covered Playhouses and the open Amphitheatres and the ultimate replacement of the Inn-yards for venues of Elizabethan plays and theatres.
Interesting Facts and information about the Cross Keys Inn Elizabethan Theatre
Name of this type of Elizabethan Theatre taken directly from the yard of an Inn
Elizabethan plays were performed in the cobbled courtyard
Audience capacity of an Elizabethan Inn-Yard - up to 500
There was gambling and there was even bear baiting in some of the Inn-yards
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