<P> The Mayor and Corporation of London banned plays in 1572 as a measure against the plague , not wanting to attract crowds of strangers . In 1575 they formally expelled all players from the city . This prompted the construction of playhouses outside the jurisdiction of London , in the liberties of Halliwell / Holywell in Shoreditch and later the Clink , and at Newington Butts near the established entertainment district of St. George 's Fields in rural Surrey . The Theatre was constructed in 1576 by James Burbage in partnership with his brother - in - law , one John Brayne , ( the owner of the Red Lion ) on property that had originally been the grounds of the dissolved Halliwell Priory ( or Holywell ) . Brayne had advanced Burbage the money needed to build The Theatre , and in return , Brayne received a portion of the profits and owned some of the property ( Burbage married Brayne 's daughter Ellen in 1575 ) . The Theatre was in Shoreditch , beyond the northern boundary of the City of London and outside the jurisdiction of civil authorities , who were often opposed to the theatre . This area in the `` suburbs of sin '' was notorious for licentious behaviour , brothels and gaming houses . A year later the Curtain Theatre was built nearby , making the area London 's first theatrical and entertainment district . `` When Burbage and Brayne mortgaged The Theatre , Brayne had just recently resolved another fight with one of his brothers - in - law over a different mortgage '' Brayne and Burbage had never written a contract , which eventually led to many quarrels concerning who spent what on getting The Theatre started . </P>
<P> The Mayor and Corporation of London banned plays in 1572 as a measure against the plague , not wanting to attract crowds of strangers . In 1575 they formally expelled all players from the city . This prompted the construction of playhouses outside the jurisdiction of London , in the liberties of Halliwell / Holywell in Shoreditch and later the Clink , and at Newington Butts near the established entertainment district of St. George 's Fields in rural Surrey . The Theatre was constructed in 1576 by James Burbage in partnership with his brother - in - law , one John Brayne , ( the owner of the Red Lion ) on property that had originally been the grounds of the dissolved Halliwell Priory ( or Holywell ) . Brayne had advanced Burbage the money needed to build The Theatre , and in return , Brayne received a portion of the profits and owned some of the property ( Burbage married Brayne 's daughter Ellen in 1575 ) . The Theatre was in Shoreditch , beyond the northern boundary of the City of London and outside the jurisdiction of civil authorities , who were often opposed to the theatre . This area in the `` suburbs of sin '' was notorious for licentious behaviour , brothels and gaming houses . A year later the Curtain Theatre was built nearby , making the area London 's first theatrical and entertainment district . `` When Burbage and Brayne mortgaged The Theatre , Brayne had just recently resolved another fight with one of his brothers - in - law over a different mortgage '' Brayne and Burbage had never written a contract , which eventually led to many quarrels concerning who spent what on getting The Theatre started . </P>
the first public playhouse ( the theatre ) is built in london
the first public playhouse ( the theatre ) is built in london
1576
1576