Burbage, RICHARD

Burbage, RICHARD, one of the great English actors, born most probably about 1567, the son of James Burbage, himself an actor, and the builder of the Shoreditch and Blackfriars theatres. Richard made his debut early, by 1588 having already earned some reputation, and during the next ten years outstripped all competitors, and earned the title of 'Roscius.' The death of his father in 1597 brought him a share in the Blackfriars Theatre, and in 1599, together with his brother Cuthbert, he pulled down the Shoreditch house, and built with the materials the famous Globe Theatre as a summer playhouse, while the Blackfriars was to become exclusively a winter house. For the expenses of building Burbage had to borrow money, and he took as partners in his undertaking Shakespeare, Hemming, Condell, and others. At one or other of these two theatres Burbage gained his greatest triumphs, and took the leading part in almost every new play until his death in 1619. Though short and stout in person, he played heroic tragedy with great fire and genius, and Overbury tells us of the modulations of his voice, and his 'full and significant action of body.' Richard III. was one of his most popular parts. Burbage was a not unskilful painter, and an undoubted picture of his is preserved at Dulwich College. See J. P. Collier's History of English Dramatic Poetry (1879).