Philip Henslowe
Philip Henslowe (* 1550, † January 6, 1616 in London ) was an English theater director.
Life
In addition to his Rose Theatre Bankside ( London) Henslowe initiated nor the Fortune Theatre in Cripplegate ( London). After the plague had survived 1593 and committed Henslowe for his Fortune the Admiral's Men with Edward Alleyn.
This was his son-in on October 22, 1592 by marrying his stepdaughter Joan Woodward. By the end of his life Henslowe now worked very closely with a son.
On the advice Alleyns Henslowe employed, among others, the playwright Thomas Dekker, George Chapman, Michael Drayton and Thomas Heywood. In the years 1593 to 1596 Henslowe brought about 55 pieces on the stage.
At the age of 66 years died Philip Henslowe in 1616 in London.
Importance
Henslowe's importance for us lies in his meticulously kept " Diaries" that are not diaries in the true sense, but inventory lists. In the years 1592-1603 he recorded in the performances and receipts, purchases and sales, contracts with actors, as well as information on existing costumes and scenes.
Serve as an example an entry on the inventory of the acting troupe Lord Admiral 's Men from March 10, 1598:
Translation:
This results for today's researchers a detailed insight into the Elizabethan theater practice that would not be possible without these diaries. It can be from, for example, draw conclusions on the dating of some of Shakespeare's Plays, as Hamlet, Henry VI, Part 1, Henry V, The Taming of the Shrew and Titus Andronicus are mentioned. But Shakespeare's name does not occur.