The Rose Playhouse
Bankside’s first theatre
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The Rose Playhouse was Bankside’s first purpose-built professional theatre.
The rich history of The Rose is well documented, but the theatre itself was thought to be lost to time.
It was originally built in 1587 by entrepreneur Philip Henslowe on the south side of the River Thames, on Bankside in Southwark.
Playwrights like William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Kyd, Thomas Dekker and Ben Jonson wrote for The Rose until it closed sometime between 1603-5.
This exceptionally significant piece of lost Shakespearean and Elizabethan cultural heritage was unearthed in 1989, to the delight and wonder of the local community, archaeologists, academics, historians, and theatre enthusiasts worldwide.
Cut-away illustration of The Rose when it opened in 1587, by William Dudley
The Rose Playhouse is a designated ancient monument which celebrates Shakespeare’s genius and the greatest flourishing of drama in the English language.
It is:
the stage where Marlowe delighted Elizabethan crowds…
the stage where Shakespeare learnt his craft…
… and the stage where many of the greatest plays in the English language made history and went on to change the culture of the English-speaking world.
William Shakespeare – The Chandos Portrait, attributed to John Taylor. (National Portrait Gallery, London)
After its astonishing rediscovery in 1989, a battle followed worthy of some of the best of Shakespeare’s plays to save the archaeological remains of The Rose, and to begin the vital journey towards their preservation.
These are the only complete surviving remains of an Elizabethan amphitheatre, and The Rose Theatre Trust has been tasked with pursuing its preservation and restoration for generations to come, to learn from and enjoy.
At the moment, only two thirds of The Rose’s archaeological remains have been excavated. There is now an urgent need to complete this work, and secure and preserve this culturally-rich and truly historic ancient monument.
The Rose Revealed
The remains of the playhouse are now scheduled as an Ancient Monument at risk.
The first aim of The Rose Theatre Trust is to complete the excavation and ensure the preservation of the remains of The Rose so that it can be accessed and enjoyed for generations to come.
Once that is done, The Rose Monument will then be surrounded by an exhibition, performance space and learning centre called The Rose Revealed. It will celebrate the dramatic creativity of Britain’s first great Elizabethan age, allowing visitors to be immersed in its history on the very site of the original Rose stage, the birthplace of Shakespeare’s genius.
The Rose Revealed is not just ‘A most rare vision’ (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 4 Scene 1), but a vital mission.
With your support, The Rose Revealed will become the central focus of an Elizabethan cultural quarter on Bankside – joining Southwark Cathedral (which dates from 606), Mary Overie Dock, the remains of Winchester Palace, the site of the Clink Prison, and the original site of The Globe playhouse with the reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe theatre nearby.
It will be at the heart and centre of this unique part of London, where great drama flowered in the first Elizabethan age and where drama, music and art have blossomed again, creating an exciting multicultural quarter during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Rose is at the heart of the first and second Elizabethan cultural quarters.
Be part of history. Be part of bringing The Rose Playhouse back to life.
A message from Dame Judi Dench
“ We must try harder. Here is this extraordinary, unique place that thousands of people will want to see.
We just need this to happen!
We need The Rose to come back to us all, and to be a place that we know that Shakespeare worked in and his actors acted in. ”
WATCH: A message from Rose Patron Dame Judi Dench. (2 mins)