2-854-415 - Historic England Archive/Heritage Images

Burbage's Theatre, New Inn Yard, Shoreditch, Hackney, London, c1576 (2016). Reconstruction illustration showing an oblique view of The Theatre in Shoreditch as it may have appeared c1576, with black lettering added to the image. The Theatre was built by James Burbage and John Brayne in 1576 on the site of the former Halliwell Priory, and is believed to have cost in the region of £700. It is generally considered to be the first purpose built theatre in London, and is likely to have been the venue for the first performance of Hamlet in 1596. This illustration is a digital copy of a watercolour painting, with black lettering added.