When people think of Shakespeare’s time, the spotlight shines squarely on the Bard himself. But behind the scenes of Elizabethan theatre, there were other power players shaping the stage. One such figure was Philip Henslowe—an entrepreneur who built theatres, backed playwrights, and helped bring some of the greatest plays to life. In fact, he was one of the biggest rivals to Shakespeare’s own company. Let’s dive into his story.
Henslowe didn’t come from a theatrical background. Born around 1550, he was a businessman through and through. He originally made his fortune through ventures like real estate and animal skins. But in the late 1580s, Henslowe entered the world of theatre—a risky but potentially lucrative investment at the time.
His most famous business move? Opening the **Rose Theatre** in 1587, located on Bankside, not far from where Shakespeare’s Globe would later stand. It quickly became a hotspot for London’s entertainment-seeking crowds.
At the Rose, Henslowe supported some of the era’s greatest playwrights, including Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Dekker. His theatre was known for its intense, gritty dramas—plays like Doctor Faustus and The Jew of Malta captivated audiences and pushed the boundaries of storytelling on stage.
However, competition was fierce. By the 1590s, Shakespeare’s company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, had built the Globe Theatre, just a stone’s throw from the Rose. Shakespeare's works—including Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet—started dominating the scene. The two theatres found themselves locked in a battle for the best plays, actors, and ticket sales.
Despite this rivalry, Henslowe remained a significant player in the theatre world, providing a platform for countless other dramatists.
We know much about Henslowe’s role in theatre thanks to a single document: *Henslowe’s Diary*. This wasn’t a diary in the traditional sense—it was a detailed business ledger. It recorded everything from payments to playwrights and box office earnings to the costs of costumes and special effects.
For historians, the diary is a goldmine. It offers rare insights into how theatres operated during the late 1500s. For instance, it reveals that playwrights were often underpaid and had to sell their works outright. It also highlights the competitive nature of the theatre business, with constant investment in new plays to keep audiences returning.
Interestingly, despite being Shakespeare’s contemporary, Henslowe’s records never mention him. Still, the diary paints a vivid picture of the world in which Shakespeare thrived.
While Shakespeare’s name became immortal, Philip Henslowe’s contributions to the stage are just as vital to the history of Renaissance drama. His business acumen kept theatres running during an era when censorship, plagues, and financial instability could shut them down at any moment.
Henslowe provided a space for bold, groundbreaking works that shaped the golden age of English theatre. Without his investments and savvy management, many of the era’s greatest plays might never have seen the light of day.
So, the next time you hear about Shakespeare’s Globe, spare a thought for Philip Henslowe—the man who challenged Shakespeare in a battle of theatres and left his own mark on history.