6. The emergence of acting troupes in England
In the mid-to-late 16th century, several acting ensembles formed in England, principally around London. They consisted of players including actors, musicians, singers, and acrobats, known at the time as “tumblers”. Many were sponsored by members of the English nobility, including one group known as Lord Strange’s Men. When their patron became the Earl of Derby following the death of his father, the troupe became known as Derby’s Men. A tumbler with the group. John Symons, achieved celebrity sufficient to attract the attention of Queen Elizabeth. In 1588 Symons left the troupe, taking most of the tumblers with him, and formed another at Her Majesty’s court, Queen Elizabeth’s Men.
Following the defection of the tumblers, Derby’s Men focused on the production and presentation of plays. During the summer and fall of 1592, they presented almost two dozen plays, among them William Shakespeare’s Henry VI, and several scholars believe Shakespeare himself performed with the troupe. The 1593 plague forced the group to leave crowded London, and they toured throughout the country, with sold-out performances testifying to their celebrity outside of England’s largest city. Though actors were still held in ill-repute by churchmen of nearly all religions of the day, many gained fame sufficient to attract audiences regardless of the play presented.