Thomas Drue facts for kids

Thomas Drue or Drewe (around 1586–1627) was an English playwright. A playwright is someone who writes plays for the theater. He lived during a time when England was mostly Protestant.

Drue is best known for writing a play called The Life of the Duchess of Suffolk. Some people also think he wrote another play called The Bloody Banquet. However, others believe different writers, like Thomas Dekker and Thomas Middleton, wrote it. He might also have worked with Robert Davenport on a play called ‘Woman's Mistake’. In 1621, a Thomas Drewe also translated a book from Syriac and High Dutch.

About His Play: The Duchess of Suffolk

Thomas Drue wrote a historical play titled ‘The Life of the Dvtches of Svffolke’. This play was published in 1631. For a while, some people mistakenly thought another writer, Thomas Heywood, wrote it.

However, official records from the time confirm that Drue was the real author. These records include the ‘Stationers Registers’ from 1629 and Sir Henry Herbert's ‘Office-book’. This means we are sure Drue wrote this important play.

Why Was This Play Important?

The play was first shown when King James I was ruling England. At this time, the king was trying to stop people from criticizing his plans. One of his plans was to marry his son, Charles I, to a Catholic princess from Spain.

The play was performed by a group called the Palsgrave's Men. This theater group was supported by Frederick of the Palatinate. The play told the story of Catherine Willoughby, a noblewoman who had to flee England. She was one of the "Marian exiles," Protestants who left England to escape persecution.

Drue made the story even more dramatic. He made it similar to the real-life situation of Frederick's wife, Elizabeth of Bohemia. Elizabeth was King James I's daughter. She had been forced to leave her home after Protestants lost a big battle in 1620. By telling Catherine's story, the play quietly showed support for Elizabeth and her difficult situation.