Henry Evans (theatre) facts for kids

Henry Evans (born around 1543 – died after 1612) was a Welsh scrivener (someone who writes documents) and a theatre producer. He was important for organizing and managing two groups of child actors: the Children of the Chapel and the Children of Paul's. These groups performed at the Blackfriars Theatre in London.

Evans first worked with these child actors for a short time in 1583–1584. Later, he led a group of investors who rented the theatre again. This second period lasted much longer, after the theatre was brought back to life by Richard Burbage and Cuthbert Burbage. Some historians describe Evans as a tricky person who wasn't always honest in his business dealings.

First Blackfriars Theatre Period

In 1583, two people named William Hunnis and John Newman gave their theatre lease in the Blackfriars area to Henry Evans. The owner of the property, Sir William More, was trying to stop the building from being used as a theatre. This was part of a complicated plan to keep the theatre open.

Evans seemed to be working with John Lyly, a writer, and his supporter Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford. However, in 1584, Sir William More got control of the building back and stopped all performances.

In 1585, Evans became the head of the Earl of Oxford's Boys, another group of child actors, who performed for the royal court.

Some people think that Evans might have written a play called Famous Victories of Henry V during this time. This play was one of the main inspirations for William Shakespeare's later plays about King Henry V. However, we are not completely sure who wrote the play.

Second Blackfriars Theatre Period

In 1599, Henry Evans teamed up with a musician named Nathaniel Giles. Together, they rented the Blackfriars Theatre again. This happened after James Burbage, the father of Richard and Cuthbert Burbage, bought the building. The Burbage family had a problem because wealthy people nearby didn't want the building to be used as a theatre. So, it had been empty for several years.

Evans wanted to use the theatre for a company of boy actors, just like he had done before 1590. He claimed the theatre was a school for "choristers" (singers), and part of the building was used for their education. This way, Evans could say the theatre was legally a school where plays just happened to be performed.

Evans also found talented children from local schools. His business partner, Nathaniel Giles, had a special permission to find performers for the queen. In 1600, a parent tried to complain about how Evans recruited his son for the Blackfriars group.

By April 1602, the theatre business seemed to be having money problems. Evans made a deal to give half ownership of the company to three new partners: William Rastell, Edward Kirkham, and Thomas Kendall. In return, he received some much-needed money.

When the plague hit in 1603, Evans tried to end his lease, but the Burbages would not let him. Later, he gave the remaining half of the company to three more partners, including the playwright John Marston, William Strachey, and his own wife.

The company faced big trouble in 1608. The French ambassador complained to King James I about plays by George Chapman at Blackfriars. These plays supposedly disrespected the French court. King James was very angry and ordered that the Blackfriars children should "never play more."

Evans was forced to give the lease back to the Burbage family later in 1608. The Burbages then used the theatre for their own famous company, the King's Men. This deal included Henry's relative, Thomas Evans, getting one share in the new partnership. The other six shares went to members of the King's Men, including the Burbages and William Shakespeare.

After the lease ended, some of Evans's old partners had legal disagreements with him. They tried to get money back from him, saying he had broken their agreement. Henry Evans himself is mentioned in these legal cases in 1610 and 1612.

Why Henry Evans Was Important

Besides possibly writing the Famous Victories play, Henry Evans also had an indirect impact on Shakespeare's plays. His company of boy actors was often seen as a competitor to the King's Men. Some parts of Shakespeare's play Hamlet even seem to talk about this rivalry.

However, the money from Evans's 1599 lease helped the Globe theatre stay open. At that time, the Globe wasn't making much money, and the Burbages had to pay back large loans they took to build and maintain it. Even though historical records suggest Evans was a tricky businessman, the Burbages seemed to trust him.

When Evans finally gave up the Blackfriars lease, and the King's Men moved into the theatre, Shakespeare's plays started to change. They became different in their structure and style. This was likely because they were adapting to the new indoor theatre and its more select audience.