John Brayne facts for kids

John Brayne was an important person in the early days of English theatre. He was born around 1541 and passed away in June 1586. He helped build two famous playhouses: the Red Lion and The Theatre.

John worked with his brother-in-law, James Burbage, who was also a key figure in theatre history. Brayne faced many challenges, including money problems and disagreements with his partners. His work helped shape the future of plays in London.

John Brayne's Family Life

John Brayne was born in London around 1541. His father, Thomas Brayne, was a tailor. John had a sister named Ellen.

In 1559, Ellen married James Burbage. James later became a very important person in the world of plays and theatres. In 1565, John Brayne married Margaret Stowers. They had several children, but sadly, most of them died when they were very young.

Starting a Career in London

When he was young, John Brayne learned the trade of a grocer. He became a member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers, a group for grocers in London. He ran his own business in a part of London called Bucklersbury.

In 1567, Brayne decided to try something new. He hired carpenters to build a special place for plays. This was in the yard of a farmhouse called the Red Lion, located near Mile End. This building is thought to be the first theatre built just for plays in England since Roman times! It had a stage and places for people to sit. The first play planned there was The Story of Sampson.

Building The Theatre in Shoreditch

A modern drawing showing the layout of The Theatre in Shoreditch.

John Brayne joined forces with his brother-in-law, James Burbage, to build an even bigger theatre. In 1576, Burbage rented land in Shoreditch to build a playhouse. Brayne helped pay for it.

It was said that Brayne provided most of the money, about £700, to build The Theatre. This was a huge amount of money back then. It even caused Brayne to run out of money himself. He had to sell his business and house to help pay for the theatre.

Disagreements and Legal Troubles

Even though they were family, John Brayne and James Burbage started to disagree. They didn't have a written agreement for their partnership, which caused problems. Brayne felt that Burbage didn't give him his fair share of ownership in the land lease for The Theatre.

Their arguments became so bad that they even got into a fight! Friends tried to help them settle their differences, but it didn't work out well.

Later, Burbage borrowed money and used the theatre's land lease as a guarantee. When he couldn't pay back the loan, the lease was taken over by the lender, John Hyde. This made things even more complicated for Brayne.

The George Inn Venture

Around 1580, John Brayne also leased a place called the George Inn in Whitechapel. He planned to reopen it as an inn. He partnered with a friend, Robert Miles, who was a goldsmith. They agreed to share the costs and profits.

However, Brayne and Miles soon started arguing too. John Brayne passed away in June 1586. He was buried in the churchyard of St Mary Matfelon.

After John Brayne's Death

After John Brayne died, his wife, Margaret, continued his legal battles. She tried to get her share of the George Inn from Robert Miles. She also tried to claim John's half-interest in The Theatre from James Burbage.

Margaret Brayne had financial help from Robert Miles for her lawsuits. The legal fights over The Theatre went on for many years. James Burbage usually won these cases.

In 1589, the ground lease for The Theatre was transferred to James's son, Cuthbert Burbage. This made Cuthbert part of the ongoing legal disputes.

A Confrontation at The Theatre

In 1590, Margaret Brayne and Robert Miles tried to get their share of the theatre's profits. They went to The Theatre when people were arriving for a play. A big argument broke out.

James Burbage's wife and his son, Richard Burbage, who was about 19 years old, got involved. They confronted Margaret Brayne and Robert Miles. There was a lot of shouting and pushing. The people trying to get their share were forced out of the theatre yard.

The arguments and lawsuits continued for several more years. Margaret Brayne died in 1593. She left her share in The Theatre to Robert Miles, who then continued the legal fight.

The End of The Theatre

James Burbage died in 1597. Soon after, the lease on The Theatre land ran out. The landowner refused to renew it.

In 1598, Cuthbert and Richard Burbage decided to take The Theatre down. They moved the wood and materials across the River Thames to Southwark. There, they used the materials to build a brand new and very famous theatre: the Globe.