In 1594 Shakespeare became a charter member of the theatrical company the Lord Chamberlain's Men named for Lord Hunsdon, the Lord Chamberlain, who was the group's sponsor. After the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603, the new king took up sponsorship of the company and as a result its name was changed to The King's Men. The theatre company had no choice in the matter.
The theatre company to which Shakespeare belonged for most of his career started off as The Lord Chamberlain's Men, but when their patron changed from the Lord Chamberlain to the King their name changed to the King's Men.
His plays themselves changed drama forever and how plays were wrote.
Shakespeare did not, by himself, change the name. He was one of a dozen or so shareholder who voted to change the name when the King of Britain, James I, offered to become the company's patron. [They went with a more prestigious brand.]
William Shakespeare did not change his name. His acting company did, however, change its name. His Theatre Company was originally called "The Lord Chamberlain's Men" after the Lord Chamberlain, an official responsible for theatres and other public entertainment. After the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603 the company was granted a charter by the new King, James I, and the company changed its name to The King's Men.
None of the theatres Shakespeare was involved in changed their names.
The theatre company to which Shakespeare belonged for most of his career started off as The Lord Chamberlain's Men, but when their patron changed from the Lord Chamberlain to the King their name changed to the King's Men.
His plays themselves changed drama forever and how plays were wrote.
Shakespeare did not, by himself, change the name. He was one of a dozen or so shareholder who voted to change the name when the King of Britain, James I, offered to become the company's patron. [They went with a more prestigious brand.]
William Shakespeare did not change his name. His acting company did, however, change its name. His Theatre Company was originally called "The Lord Chamberlain's Men" after the Lord Chamberlain, an official responsible for theatres and other public entertainment. After the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603 the company was granted a charter by the new King, James I, and the company changed its name to The King's Men.
He did not.
None of the theatres Shakespeare was involved in changed their names.
They are more commonly remembered as the King's Men.
His company became the King's Men, after James I ascended to the throne.
The Theatre
He got testicular cancer
Shakespeare spent most of his productive life with the same theatre company, which changed its name three times. The names of theatre companies in Shakespeare's day came from the noble or royal patron of the company. The actors were theoretically employed by this patron, although really they were both self-supporting and self-directing. If you work for McDonald's, do you think you can change the name of the company? Of course you can't, and neither could Shakespeare. The first patron of the company was Henry Carey, the Lord Chamberlain, and so it was called The Lord Chamberlain's Men. Mr. Carey died but his son George Carey, Lord Hunsdon took over the patronage, so the company was called Lord Hunsdon's Men. Later he got promoted to Lord Chamberlain, so they became the Lord Chamberlain's Men again. When Queen Elizabeth died her successor James I became patron of the company which naturally was then known as The King's Men.
The Lord Chamberlain's Men became The King's Men in 1603.