William Rowley facts for kids
William Rowley (born around 1585 – died February 1626) was an English playwright and actor during the Jacobean era. He is best known for the plays he wrote with other famous writers of his time. He was buried on February 11, 1626, in London.
About William Rowley
William Rowley was an actor who also wrote plays. He was especially good at playing "clown" characters, which were funny roles meant to make the audience laugh. He must have been a big person, as he often played characters known for being large. For example, he played the Fat Bishop in a play called A Game at Chess by Thomas Middleton.
As a writer, Rowley mostly wrote plays. He wrote very few non-play works. When he worked with other writers, he usually wrote the funny parts of the play. However, he also wrote important parts of the main stories in plays like The Changeling and A Fair Quarrel.
His Acting Companies
Rowley started his career working for a group called the Queen Anne's Men at the Red Bull Theatre. In 1609, he helped start a new acting group called the Duke of York's Men. This group later became known as Prince Charles's Men after 1612. Rowley spent most of his career acting and writing for this company. They performed at different theaters, including the Curtain, the Hope, and the Red Bull.
In 1623, Rowley joined the very successful King's Men, which was William Shakespeare's famous company. He worked with them at the Globe until he passed away in 1626. Even though his time with the King's Men was short, it was busy. He played roles like Cacafogo in Rule a Wife and Have a Wife. Interestingly, Rowley sometimes wrote plays for other companies even when he was acting for the King's Men.
Plays by William Rowley
It can be tricky to know exactly which plays William Rowley wrote, especially because he often worked with other writers. Here are some of the plays he is known for:
- The Birth of Merlin; or, The Child Hath Found its Father (performed 1622; printed 1662). Some people think William Shakespeare helped write this play, but this is debated.
- The Changeling (performed 1622; printed 1653). He wrote this play with Thomas Middleton.
- A Fair Quarrel (performed 1614–17; printed 1617). He wrote this play with Thomas Middleton.
- Fortune by Land and Sea (performed around 1607; printed 1655). He wrote this play with Thomas Heywood.
- The Maid in the Mill (performed 1623; printed 1647). He wrote this play with John Fletcher.
- A Match at Midnight (performed around 1622; printed 1633). This play is only credited to 'W. R.', and some experts think Rowley might not have written it.
- A New Wonder, a Woman Never Vexed (performed 1610–14; printed 1632). This might have been a team effort, possibly with George Wilkins and Thomas Heywood.
- The Old Law, or A New Way to Please You (performed 1618; printed 1656). He wrote this with Thomas Middleton, and possibly a third writer like Philip Massinger or Thomas Heywood.
- A Shoemaker a Gentleman (date unknown; printed 1638).
- The Spanish Gypsy (performed 1623; printed 1653). Even though the title page says Rowley and Thomas Middleton wrote it, many experts believe John Ford and Thomas Dekker were the actual writers.
- The Thracian Wonder (date unknown; printed 1661). The title page says Rowley and John Webster wrote it, but few people agree that Webster was involved.
- The Travels of the Three English Brothers (performed and printed 1607). He wrote this with George Wilkins and John Day.
- Wit at Several Weapons (performed around 1615; printed 1647). This play was likely changed a lot by Rowley and Thomas Middleton.
- The Witch of Edmonton (performed 1621; published 1658). He wrote this with John Ford and Thomas Dekker.
- The World Tossed at Tennis (performed and printed 1620). He wrote this with Thomas Middleton.
