They were not. The Earl of Leicester did sponsor a theatrical company in the 1570s but Shakespeare was just a kid then. I suppose one might say that the Earl's interest in drama fuelled competition between various nobles to have the largest and best theatrical troupe (until the Queen formed her own company by stealing all the best actors from the others) which encouraged the development of drama generally and laid the groundwork for the careers of Burbage and Alleyn, Shakespeare and Marlowe, Beeston and Henslowe and all of the others who prospered because of the drama industry from the 1580s on.
Dudley who? Or just "Dudley"?
By socializing. Throw parties, talk to them everyday. Try to raise the relationship bar enough to like, and accept you.
Dudley
Dudley Lovell's birth name is Dudley Bevington Lovell.
Cuddly Dudley's birth name is Dudley Heslop.
Matt Dudley's birth name is Matthew Dudley.
Dudley Kuzelle's birth name is Dudley Kuzell.
Dudley's population is 194,919.
Dudley Slausson's birth name is Dudley R. Slauson.
Dudley Hendricks is 6' 3".
Dudley Moore went by Cuddly Dudley, and The Sex Thimble.
Dudley Early's birth name is John Dudley Early.