mar 12, 1572 - James Burbage

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James Burbage was originally a carpenter but changed his career to be an actor and then theatrical entrepreneur. In 1572, as leader of a company of actors, Burbage asked for the Earl of Leicester’s protection and patronage and in 1574 the Earl obtained from Queen Elizabeth I a licence for a theatrical company, which would bear his name – ‘The Earl of Leicester’s Men’. This licence allowed Burbage and his sons, Cuthbert and Richard, as servants of the Earl, ‘to use, exercise, and occupy the art and faculty of playing comedies, tragedies, interludes, stage plays, and such other like as they have already used and studied.’

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