‘By consent of the whole chapter’: Lincoln Cathedral’s Rewards for Touring Players and School Comedies, 1561-1593

Authors

  • Jason Burg

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12745/et.21.1.3304

Abstract

The records of Lincoln Cathedral possess the largest and most enduring evidence for cathedral-funded dramatic performance in medieval and early modern England. In the mid-sixteenth century earlier forms of financial backing were replaced by the rewarding of travelling players by the chapter. The absence of similar rewards in the civic accounts of the period makes the cathedral records unique in their documentation of touring players and school comedies in the city. The following essay demonstrates the unique role played by Lincoln Cathedral and reveals an alternative view of looking at who bestowed financial gifts on travelling players during the reign of Elizabeth I.

Author Biography

Jason Burg

Jason Burg (jasonburg8@gmail.com) is an early career researcher recently graduated from the University of Birmingham. His work is concerned with the theatrical interpretation of historical events in historic spaces, and medieval and early modern performance shifts as they relate to social and religious change. He is currently researching the medieval performances funded by Lincoln Cathedral, as well as preparing a monograph on the performance of early modern drama in sites with historical links to the plays.  

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Published

2018-02-05

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Section

Articles