Which theater companies was William Shakespeare associated with?

Answer 1

After 1594 he wrote exclusively for The Lord Chamberlain's Men. However, before that date his plays were performed by Lord Strange's Men, Lord Derby's Men, Lord Pembroke's Men and perhaps others we are not aware of.

Answer 2

'Lord Chamberlain's Men' - it was sponsored by Lord Chamberlain.

It was later known as the 'King's Men' when James I came to the throne of England and granted royal patronage to the company.

Answer 3

For most of his working life he was associated with the company called The Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as The King's Men after they changed Patrons.

He was a part of this company from its inception and for almost twenty years afterward. Before the Lord Chamberlain's company was formed in 1594, we cannot be sure exactly with which companies Shakespeare worked, but we can guess (since these companies performed his plays, especially Titus Andronicus) that Strange's Men, Derby's Men and Pembroke's Men might have been among them.

He also might have worked for Strange's, the company Burbage was with before 1594.

Answer 4

We will leave aside the question of what theatres the companies which Shakespeare belonged to before 1594 played in because we are not really sure which companies they were, never mind which theatres they played. However, we know which theatres the Lord Chamberlain's Men in their various incarnations played. They started out with the theatres closed due to the plague, but were able to play the Newington Butts theatre which was far enough south to be out of the plague zone. When they got back to London they played The Theatre, but landlord troubles caused this theatre to close in about 1596 and they moved to The Curtain. Richard and Cuthbert Burbage wanted to recoup their capital in the useless Theatre, so had it torn down and its timbers used to build a new theatre in Southwark, the Globe, in 1599 which became the company's home base from then on. It was joined in 1608 by the Blackfriars indoor theatre, which enabled the company to perform at night, in the winter, and in foul weather.

They also performed on innumerable temporary stages set up in palaces, people's houses, guild halls, lecture halls, church halls, innyards and anywhere they were invited to play.

Answer 5

William Shakespeare wrote his plays for The Lord Chamberlain's Men. (Later known as The King's Men).

Answer 6

He wrote for his own company The Lord Chamberlain's (later The King's) Men.