John Rhodes (17th century) facts for kids

John Rhodes (who lived from about 1624 to 1665) was an important person in the theatre world during the 1600s. He became well-known in 1660 when theatres in London re-opened. This happened at the start of a new time called the English Restoration.

Early Theatre Days

John Rhodes worked with a famous acting group called the King's Men. This was during the later years of English Renaissance drama. In 1624, a man named Sir Henry Herbert was the Master of the Revels. He was like the boss of all entertainment. Herbert said that Rhodes was one of the "necessary attendants" for the King's Men. This meant he was a key helper for the company. Rhodes worked as the wardrobe-keeper at the Blackfriars Theatre. He took care of all the costumes.

When the English Civil War began in 1642, theatres had to close down. John Rhodes, like some other members of the King's Men, became a bookseller. His shop was called "the Bible" and was located in Charing Cross in London.

There are also hints that Rhodes was in charge of the Cockpit Theatre starting in 1644. Even though London theatres were officially closed from 1642 to 1660, people still tried to put on plays secretly. Sometimes, like in 1647, plays were performed quite often. It's possible Rhodes was involved in these secret shows. However, we don't have much information from that time to be sure.

A New Start in Theatre

After Oliver Cromwell died, a period known as the English Interregnum was ending. This is when John Rhodes tried to become a theatre manager and producer. In February 1660, before King Charles II had even returned to England, Rhodes got permission to open a theatre.

He rented and fixed up the old Cockpit Theatre. He also put together a group of young actors. They started putting on plays. In 1660, Rhodes produced Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre. This was the first Shakespeare play to be performed again in this new era. A famous actor named Thomas Betterton made his first stage appearance in this play. Some people say Betterton was Rhodes's apprentice when Rhodes was a bookseller. Another actor, Edward Kynaston, also acted for Rhodes. Kynaston was famous for being one of the last "boy players" who acted in female roles. Soon after, the first English actresses started performing.

Rhodes hoped to get a special permission from the King for his theatre. But he was pushed aside by powerful people. Only two men, Thomas Killigrew and Sir William Davenant, received royal permission to open theatres. Rhodes's acting company became the main group for Davenant's new company, called the Duke's Company. However, Kynaston joined the other main company, the King's Company.

Later Years

Even though his London theatre plans didn't work out, Rhodes didn't give up on drama. For a while, he had a travelling group of actors. They toured outside London and sometimes visited the city. In London, Rhodes's group performed at the Cockpit and the Red Bull. These were older theatres that the two royal companies no longer used. The royal companies were building new, modern theatres at this time.

Rhodes's travelling acting group seemed to stop performing after 1662. This was probably because the two bigger, more established theatre companies made it hard for him. In 1663, Rhodes received money for a play performed at Whitehall Palace in 1662. The actors in that play were surprisingly from the Duke's Company.

Rhodes's efforts to start his theatre company led to some legal arguments over the years. In 1665, Rhodes said he was in his 60s. At that time, he was working as a draper, which is someone who sells cloth, in a part of London called St Giles Cripplegate.

See also

• George Jolly