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Chapter 4 - Henslowe on Revivals

from Part II - Agents of Renewal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2026

Eoin Price
Affiliation:
University of Edinburgh
Harry Newman
Affiliation:
Royal Holloway, University of London
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Summary

The book of accounts kept by Philip Henslowe at the Rose playhouse provides considerable evidence on the offerings of seven adult playing companies, 1592–1603. Theatre historians generally agree that the plays marked “ne” were considered by Henslowe to be in some sense new; those not so marked were considered in some sense old. In terms of categories, one kind of play could be called old because it was still in production following its debut performance, another kind could be old because it had been retired from the stage but was now being revived. This chapter examines the evidence in Henslowe’s “Diary” that revival was a routine feature of repertorial commerce practiced industry-wide by the adult companies. It argues that Henslowe’s accounts document the commercial viability not only of those plays scholars consider successes due to the literary and theatrical reputation of their authors but also of those anonymous to us now and/or lost.

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