Why did Queen Elizabeth I save Shakespeare's acting company?

Answer 1

She didn't. Some people think she did and that Edward De Vere was the real Shakespeare, writing all the plays for William, and that Edward was Queen Elizabeth's son. Actual historians and scholars think these people are crazy.

The true facts are that Queen Elizabeth did not "save Shakespeare's acting company". The Queen was a promoter of the theatre, being the sponsor of her own company, The Queen's Men, long before Shakespeare was even in London. This company still existed in the 1590s but was of small significance after the departure of their star, Richard Tarleton. She also ensured that there was legislation which protected any acting company which had the support of a noble or royal person.

Shakespeare was part of the theatre scene before 1593, as we have a couple of references which make most sense when they are taken to refer to Shakespeare and his plays. In 1593 plague closed the theatres, but young Shakespeare made a packet of money selling copies of his semi-pornographic poem Venus and Adonis. A lot of theatre companies went backrupt at this time, but the actors reformed into new companies. One of these companies, made up mostly of actors from the former Lord Strange's Men, and headed up by the two sons of the theatre builder James Burbage, star actor Richard Burbage and savvy businessman Cuthbert Burbage reformed under the patronage of the Lord Chamberlain. They recruited the promising young writer and actor William Shakespeare to join their company, and he invested his money in it and became a junior partner. Thanks to Richard Burbage's acting, Cuthbert's management, the fact that the Burbages owned shares in a bunch of theatre buildings around London, and the steady supply of Shakespeare plays, the company went from strength to strength throughout Elizabeth's reign. After her death, the patronage of the company was taken over by the new king and the company continued to prosper long after Shakespeare and the Burbages left it.

To summarize:

1. Queen Elizabeth created legislation that protected all of the chartered acting companies.

2. Queen Elizabeth did sponsor an acting company, but William Shakespeare never had anything to do with it.

3. William Shakespeare was never the director, owner, or even principal shareholder in any acting company.

4. The only acting company with which we know Shakespeare to have been associated (and he was associated with it for almost 20 years), was never in any danger that would have required Queen Elizabeth or anyone else to "save" it.

Answer 2

He did not. Shakespeare had no say in the name of his acting company. On the death of the queen the new king took over sponsorship of the company. A new sponsor meant a new name. Neither Shakespeare nor any of the other sharers had any say in the matter.

Answer 3

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