Then Hamnet died on August 11, 1596, at the age of eleven. Between 1585 and 1592, there is no evidence of Shakespeare. These years are known as the lost years. Then in 1592 Shakespeare shows up in London.
Shakespeare in London.
Actors were often treated poorly in London during Elizabethan times. Richard Burbage was an actor, so his father, James Burbage decided actors needed a residence to live and work in of which the actors owned. James did this because actors were treated badly and apparently he did not want his son to be treated that way. James leased land and made a company of actors. Then there was the first public playhouse, which was called the Theatre. Theatre was the name given to all playhouses afterwards. By the time Shakespeare had arrived in London, which was 1588, many theatres had already been in business. At that point he became an actor and a playwright in the Theatre. .
Shakespeare's Work in Theatre Companies.
Historians believe Shakespeare showed promise in the Theatre, he was a part of the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later called the King's Men), but not just as an actor and playwright, but was an associate in the managing of the Theatre. During the mid-1590's the Theatre's success was interfered with by the plague, forcing it to close down. Throughout the two years the theatres were closed Lord Chamberlain's Men prepared plans for the Globe Theatre. .
Shakespeare's First Poems.
During the time all Theatres were closed due to the Plague, the necessity for plays decreased. So Shakespeare began to write poems. Shakespeare wrote two narrative poems during this period. Afterwards, Richard Field published Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis in 1593. This poem was dedicated to the Earl of Southampton. Then in 1594 Richard Field published Shakespeare's other poem, The Rape of Lucrece. The success of these poems did not stop Shakespeare in writing plays. Since the success didn't stop him, in 1594, when theatres were resumed, Shakespeare continued his career in the Theatre.
