Medieval stage where Shakespeare is said to have performed discovered in King's Lynn
The nearly 600-year-old oak floorboards have been uncovered at St George’s Guildhall in King’s Lynn during the ongoing refurb
Last updated 5th Oct 2023
A medieval stage, which may have once hosted performances by the bard himself, has been discovered at a theatre in King's Lynn.
King's Lynn's St George's Guildhall is thought to have hosted performances by Shakespeare in 1592 or 1593.
This was when London's theatres were closed because of another outbreak of plague and William Shakespeare and his company of actors were on tour in King's Lynn.
The nearly 600-year-old oak floorboards have been uncovered under the existing floor at St George’s Guildhall, as the venue is currently undergoing a major refurbishment.
A note in the corporation of King’s Lynn’s account book shows Shakespeare's company were paid by the corporation to perform there.
There is also evidence, in a book published in Shakespeare’s lifetime, of an incident that happened at the King's Lynn theatre - where an audience member watching a play about a murder on stage was so consumed with guilt she confessed to killing her husband.
Tim FitzHigham, Creative Director at the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, said: "I first heard the tale that Shakespeare had performed at the Guildhall as a kid but when I went back as an adult it seemed people had forgotten about it.
“Before I became Creative Director at the council, I had been involved in researching the history of the venue. We were able to demonstrate the connection of the town with Robert Armin and Shakespeare.
The venue dates back to 1445 making it the oldest working theatre in the UK.
Vicky Etheridge, King’s Lynn Town Deal Board member and project champion for St George’s Guildhall, said: “These floorboards have been in plain sight for many years, viewed from underneath as the corridor ceiling running underneath the theatre to the galleries behind.
“To have confirmation that they are indeed the original floorboards of the stage, which have been covered for many years, is beyond exciting, and something that would not have come to light if we hadn’t developed this project and sought Town Deal funding from the UK Government under its Levelling Up agenda.
“Clearly, as a board, we will now be working with the project officers and experts to see how we can develop our plans to incorporate this discovery into the project and will be discussing any potential changes with the government and other funders to ensure we maximise the opportunities this finding presents,” she added.
The project team will now work out a plan to incorporate this exciting discovery into the project.