London and theatrical career William Shakespeare

—as it, act ii, scene 7, 139–42

in 1599, partnership of members of company built own theatre on south bank of river thames, named globe. in 1608, partnership took on blackfriars indoor theatre. extant records of shakespeare s property purchases , investments indicate association company made him wealthy man, , in 1597, bought second-largest house in stratford, new place, , in 1605, invested in share of parish tithes in stratford.

some of shakespeare s plays published in quarto editions, beginning in 1594, , 1598, name had become selling point , began appear on title pages. shakespeare continued act in own , other plays after success playwright. 1616 edition of ben jonson s works names him on cast lists every man in humour (1598) , sejanus fall (1603). absence of name 1605 cast list jonson s volpone taken scholars sign acting career nearing end. first folio of 1623, however, lists shakespeare 1 of principal actors in these plays , of first staged after volpone, although cannot know roles played. in 1610, john davies of hereford wrote played kingly roles. in 1709, rowe passed down tradition shakespeare played ghost of hamlet s father. later traditions maintain played adam in it, , chorus in henry v, though scholars doubt sources of information.

throughout career, shakespeare divided time between london , stratford. in 1596, year before bought new place family home in stratford, shakespeare living in parish of st. helen s, bishopsgate, north of river thames. moved across river southwark 1599, same year company constructed globe theatre there. 1604, had moved north of river again, area north of st paul s cathedral many fine houses. there, rented rooms french huguenot named christopher mountjoy, maker of ladies wigs , other headgear.