Thomas Benger facts for kids

Sir Thomas Benger (around 1520 – 1572) was a very important person in the court of Queen Elizabeth I. He was known as the Master of the Revels. This job meant he was in charge of all the fun and entertainment at the Queen's court. He took over this role on January 18, 1560, after Sir Thomas Cawarden. Sir Thomas Benger stayed in this job until 1572.

Before Elizabeth became Queen, Benger was a loyal member of her household at Hatfield. He stayed with her even when she faced difficulties under her sister, Queen Mary I. In 1559, he was chosen to be a member of Parliament for Lancaster.

Sir Thomas Benger: Master of Royal Entertainment

As Master of the Revels, Sir Thomas Benger was responsible for creating many plays and shows for Queen Elizabeth I. Between 1560 and 1572, he put on forty-six different plays and masques. These shows often explored the political discussions happening around the Queen's marriage plans.

Plays and Performers

Only eleven of the plays Benger produced were performed by professional acting groups. One famous group was the Grey's Inn Men. It is believed that Benger also used groups of child actors for his performances. The famous writer William Shakespeare might have been talking about these child actors in his play Hamlet. In one part of Hamlet, he mentions "an aery of children, little eyases." This means young birds, like young eagles, who perform loudly and are very popular.

Setting the Stage for Royal Shows

Sir Thomas Benger was very creative with his court shows. He used boy actors from places like Children of Paul's. He also introduced realistic, three-dimensional scenery and special stage effects. These new ideas helped define what royal entertainment looked like during Queen Elizabeth's time. His high standards became the example for other noble lords when the Queen visited them during her summer trips.

Challenges of the Job

Being the Master of the Revels was a big job, and it also cost a lot of money. Sir Thomas Benger found it hard to pay for all the shows and costumes. He even asked the Queen for help with his debts. He wrote to her, calling himself "one of the last of the poor flock of Hatfield," meaning he was one of the few loyal people left from her early days. He explained that the cost of making the shows had never been so low, but it was still too much for him.

Sir Thomas Benger passed away in 1572. After his death, Sir Thomas Blagrave took over his important role as Master of the Revels.