A posh tower in London opens next to the remnants of a Shakespearean theater.
The ruins of a Shakespearean theater from the sixteenth century were discovered by archaeologists when they were laying the foundations for the newest opulent residential skyscraper in London.
The remnants of the Curtain theater, which debuted in 1577 but vanished from historical accounts in 1622, were discovered while constructing a £750 million, 37-story building housing 412 flats, which opened for business on Monday. The Stage is the new name for it.
While archaeologists are often called upon during the excavation phase of central London constructions, the team from the Museum of London Archaeology was taken aback to learn that Shakespeare’s Henry V and Romeo and Juliet are believed to have had their premieres in this theater.
“This is an amazing location that provides us with a distinctive understanding of early Shakespearean theaters,” chief archaeologist Chris Thomas remarked upon the find’s 2012 discovery.
Up until the Globe was finished in 1599, south of the River Thames, the theater served as the primary venue for Shakespeare’s plays. The playhouse appears to have disappeared from the records after 1622, therefore it is unclear what became of it.
The meticulously preserved theater ruins will be part of a new Shakespeare museum on the site, which will employ cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) to let theatergoers walk across the Elizabethan stage, where Shakespeare once performed as an actor and which is thought to have hosted the first productions of Henry V and Romeo and Juliet.
The museum, which is three meters below ground and is set in the year 1598, will employ “dynamic experiences, innovative theatrical technology, and archaeological discoveries” to convey the story of Shakespeare’s life. When the museum opens in a year, visitors will be able to see the stage where Shakespeare performed his plays and see original artifacts in addition to immersive experiences.
Leading the excavations at the site of the Curtain, one of London’s oldest and longest-running playhouses that has revolutionized our understanding of early modern performance, has been an immense privilege, and I am eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the history of the Curtain, according to Heather Knight, a senior archaeologist at the Museum of London Archaeology.
The Curtain got its name from the historic Curtain Road, which ran alongside the former curtain wall of a medieval priory. It had nothing to do with theater. One of the visitors described it as standing in a fair meadow just outside the city walls, and it was one of two playhouses, 100 meters apart.
A 37-story tower with 412 apartments is located above the museum. A studio apartment on the 46th floor costs at least £750,000, while a three-bedroom apartment on the 35th floor costs £3 million. 199 out of the 412 apartments have been sold. Launched in the upcoming year, the top two levels will have two-story penthouse apartments with an estimated cost of £7 million.
“We are delighted to unveil the Stage, our striking residential tower now complete,” stated David Galman, director of sales for the project. The Stage is a component of a brand-new cultural center for Londoners, repurposing this Shakespearean landmark as a cutting-edge 21st-century tourist attraction.
Modern facilities are a must for today’s purchasers, and The Stage delivers with its underground amusement arcade, adaptable offices, and breathtaking sky terrace with views of London. We are thrilled to present the lifestyle that is on offer—a one-of-a-kind experience in a highly sought-after area. Considering the importance of this location, our partners and I have worked together to realize the idea and create a historic development that will be enjoyed by future generations.