We’re only just getting to these plays. As the playhouses recover from some terrible plague years there’s a lot to enjoy. The dating on this list may be more off then earlier lists, it is a work in progress, adjusted as we do work on each play. Go back to 1590 to 1593.

1594

Two Tragedies in One, or Two Lamentable Tragedies by Robert Yarington – True(ish) crime drama which prefigures all the cliches of modern television crime drama. The body is always found by the dog walker. Our First Look Exploring Session is below – video of a 2014 production of the Merry plot line – performed at UCL on Friday 21st March and directed by Emma Whipday is available online here, with accompanying blog here.

A Knack to Know an Honest Man – not exactly a sequel to A Knack to Know a Knave (the plot and locale is completely different) but a thematic and title steal never the less. A bit of a hit for the Admiral’s Men.

Alphonsus, Emperor of Germany – a later date is usually assigned for this these days (1630ish), but here it is in case you’re lost. First Look Exploring Session here.

Cornelia by Thomas Kyd – printed this year, First Look Exploring session available.

1595

Sir Thomas More by lots of people – First Look Exploring Session available

Maroccus Extaticus or Bankes Bay Horse in a Trance – so this isn’t a play, it’s just written in dialogue form. Marocco was a famous performing horse of the 1580’s/90’s, so this dialogue leaps onto his fame to make some legit social comment.

1596

The Blind Beggar of Alexandria by George Chapman – First Look Exploring Session available.

The Famous History of the Life and Death of Captain Thomas Stukeley – lots to dig into with this play. Compare and contrast with The Battle of Alzacar on the George Peele page, should you wish. First Look Exploring session available.

1597

An Humorous Day’s Mirth by George Chapman – quite a success for the Admiral’s Men, till the Isle of Dogs disaster closed its streak of good houses. Oh well. First Look Exploring Session available.

The Case is Altered by Ben Jonson – First Look Exploring Session available for this early Jonson.

1598

Every Man In His Humour by Ben Jonson – First Look Exploring Session available for the earlier version of the play.

We’ve also done a bit of a dive into the prologue for the later version. More to come.

Robin Hood (part one) or, The Downfall of Robert Earl of Huntingdon by Anthony Munday.

Robin Hood (part two) or, The Death of Robert Earl of Huntingdon by Anthony Munday with Henry Chettle – First Look Exploring Session available.

Englishmen for My Money, or A Woman Will Have Her Will by William Haughton – First Look Exploring Session available.

The Virtuous Octavia by Samuel Brandon – First Look Exploring Session Available

The Two Angry Women of Abington by Henry Porter – fab title. So far we’ve only had an in passing drive by look at the prologue.

1599

The Pilgrimage to Parnassus – First Look Exploring Session available

Antonio and Mellida by John Marston – the first of two plays (both are in the playlist) which start explicitly as comedy, and then turns into genre bending kinds of tragedy.

We also had a bit of a look at the epilogue – which is nice.

The Life and Death of Thomas Cromwell – an exploring session on this play is complete in two parts. We’ve also done a workshop on the character of Hodge. More work to follow…

Sir John Oldcastle by Michael Drayton, Munday, Wilson, Uncle Tom Cobbley and All. First Look Exploring Session available.

The Weakest Goeth to the Wall – First Look Exploring Session available.

Old Fortunatus by Thomas Dekker – First Look Exploring Session available.

The Shoemaker’s Holiday by Thomas Dekker – First Look Exploring Session available.

Every Man Out of His Humour by Ben Jonson – First Look Exploring Session available.

A Larum for London, or The Siege of Antwerp – Exploring Session playlist available – including a look at the source material The Spoil of Antwerp.

Edward the Fourth, parts one and two, by Thomas Heywood. Exploring session available.

Look About You – a disguise comedy featuring a young Robin Hood. First Look Exploring Session available

The Wisdom of Doctor Dodypoll – performed by the Children of Paul’s around about here, printed in 1600.

Jack Drum’s Entertainment by John Marston – possibly dates next year. Lots of stuff to look at. We’ve done a First Look Exploring Session…

Sam Plumb directed it for the Young Actors Company, and we interviewed him for the podcast. It also features a recording of the opening Induction to the play.

A video of the Young Actors Company production is available on YouTube. Huzzah! More people should show such clear vision regarding archiving their work.

As this play could have come in 1600, that seems a good crossover point. Liz I only has a few years left – and the London playhouses are really getting into a groove. More and more plays are surviving, more playwrights are known to us. Quite exciting. Go to 1600 to 1603.