Strange's Men
           


NOTE: The roles listed for any given actor do not necessarily coincide with roles that actor played while associated with this company. The listed roles reflect the complete extant corpus of that actor's career. Neither does the list necessarily suggest a chronology of performance. Though the listings are accurate, the scholar is nevertheless cautioned to research further.


Ferdinando, Lord Strange, had a company of players dating back to the 1570's. By 1591 Lord Strange's Men, gave an unprecedented six performances at court during the 1591-92 season. They went to the Rose in 1592, where one of their members, Edward Alleyn, married Henslowe's daughter. This may have been in part responsible for their stay at the Rose for five months from February to June 1592–perhaps the longest single tenure for a company at a single playhouse to that date. In September 1593, Fernando Stanley succeeded his brother as earl of Derby. This is when the company became Derby's Men. He died, however, 16 April 1594. After that time, the earl's widow took charge of the players, and we have a record of them performing under her name on 16 May 1594. By then, however, the original Derby company had been greatly subsumed into the Chamberlain's and Admiral's companies.
From Gurr, Andrew The Shakespearian Playing Companies, Oxford UP, 1996.


Listed alphabetically


Attewell, George

(d.1598) (Ottewell, Ottwell). Actor (Strange's 1591; at Swan 1595). [ES ii, 300 [full citation] ; Nungezer, 22 [full citation] ; Nethercot, Elizabethan Plays, 571 (1971) [full citation] ; George, 'Shakespeare and Pembroke's Men', 310 (1981) [full citation] ; Eccles, 'Actors I', 39 (1991) [full citation] ; Wills, 228 (1993) [full citation] ]


Beeston, Christopher

(circa1580-1638) (alias Hutchinson). Actor ([?]Strange's; Chamberlain's 1598; Worcester's-Queen Anne's 1602-19; Prince Charles' (I) 1619-22; Lady Elizabeth's 1622-25; Queen Henrietta's 1625-37), sharer, entrepreneur. (Husband of Elizabeth Beeston; father of William Beeston; brother-in-law of James Sands (?); father-in-law of Theophilus Bird) [ES ii, 302 [full citation] ; Nungezer, 36 [full citation] ; JCS ii, 363; iii, 17 [full citation] ; Sisson, 'Notes', 26 (1942) [full citation] ; Sisson, 'Red Bull Company' (1954) [full citation] ; Freehafer, 'Brome, Suckling' (1968) [full citation] ; Haaker, 'Plague', 294 (1968) [full citation] ; Bawcutt, 'Craven Ord Transcripts', 91 (1984) [full citation] ; Eccles, 'Actors I', 39, 42 (1991) [full citation] ; Wills, 191 (1993) [full citation] ]

[?]Soldier "Envy", [?]Captain "Sloth," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS; principal actor, EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR;


Belt, T.

(fl. 1590). Actor (Strange's 1590). [ES ii, 303 [full citation] ; Nungezer, 42 [full citation] ; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 44 (1931)]

actor, 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS


Bryan, George

(d.1612). Actor (Denmark 1586; Strange's 1593; Chamberlain's 1596). [ES ii, 304 [full citation]; Nungezer, 63 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 44 (1931) [full citation]; Sjogren, 'Thomas Bull', 121 (1969) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors I', 42 (1991) [full citation]; Wills, 229 (1993) [full citation]]

Warwick "Induction," Damascus "Envy," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS;


Burbage, Richard

(1568-1619). Actor (Strange's; Chamberlain's-King's 1594-1619), sharer. (Brother of Cuthbert Burbage, son of James Burbage, nephew of Robert Burbage, wife of Winifred Turner Burbage Robinson) [Stopes, Burbage (1913) [full citation]; ES ii, 306 [full citation]; Nungezer, 67 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 44 (1931) [full citation]; JCS ii, 395 [full citation]; Riddell, 'Actors', 289 (1969) [full citation]; Bergeron, 'Actors', 22 (1972) [full citation]; Ingram, 'Early Career' (1988) [full citation]; McMillin, 'Sussex's Men', 222 (1991) [full citation]; Wills, 113 (1993) [full citation]; Edmond, 'Yeomen', 31ff. (1996) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors I', 43 (1991) [full citation]; Ingram, Business (1992) [full citation]]

Messenger, DEAD MAN'S FORTUNE; Gorboduc "Envy," Tereus "Lechery," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS; actor, EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR, EVERY MAN OUT OF HIS HUMOUR, SEJANUS, VOLPONE, ALCHEMIST, CAILINE, CAPTAIN, VALENTINIAN, BONDUCA, QUEEN OF CORINTH, KINGHT OF MALTA, MAD LOVER, LOYAL SUBJECT; Hieronimo, SPANISH TRAGEDY; Richard III, RICHARD III; Romeo, ROMEO AND JULIET; Malevole, MALCONTENT; Hamlet, HAMLET; Lear, KING LEAR; Othello, OTHELLO; Ferdinand, DUCHESS OF MALFI;


[?]Condell, Henry

(1576-1627). Actor (Chamberlain's-King's 1598-1627), sharer. (Husband of Elizabeth Condell) [ES, ii, 310 [full citation]; Nungezer, 98 [full citation]; Barnard, New Links, 1-23 (1930) [full citation]; JCS ii, 410 [full citation]; Riddell, 'Actors', 292 (1969) [full citation]; Honneyman, 'Henry Condell' (1985) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors I', 44 (1991) [full citation]; Wills, 156 (1993) [full citation]]

[?]Ferrex "Envy," [?]lord "Lechery, 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS (requiring him to have been a member of Strange's, which is not at all certain); himself, Induction, MALCONTENT; Cardinal, DUCHESS OF MALFI (part taken later by Richard Robinson); actor, EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR; actor, EVERY MAN OUT OF HIS HUMOUR;SEJANUS, VOLPONE, ALCHEMIST, CATILINE, CAPTAIN, VALENTINIAN; BONDUCA; QUEEN OF CORINTH; KNIGHT OF MALTA; MAD LOVER; LOYAL SUBJECT; HUMOUROUS LIEUTENANT;


Cowley, Richard

(1568?-1619). Actor (Strange's 1590-3; Chamberlain's-King's 1598-1619). [ES ii, 312 [full citation]; Nungezer, 105 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 44 (1931) [full citation]; JCS ii, 414 [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors I', 45 (1991) [full citation]; Wills, 112 (1993) [full citation]; Cerasano, 'Henslowe/Forman', 157 (1993) [full citation]]

Lieutenant "Induction," Soldier & Lord "Envy," Giraldus & Musician "Sloth," Lord "Lechery," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS; Verges, ADO;


[?]Downton, Thomas (I)

(d.1625). Actor (?Strange's, Pembroke's, Admiral's-Prince Henry's-Palsgrave's 1592-1618). (Father of Thomas Downton (II)) [ES ii, 313 [full citation]; Bentley, 'Shakespeare's Fellows' (1928) [full citation]; Nungezer, 117 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 54 (1931) [full citation]; JCS ii, 426 [full citation]; Bowers, 'Shoemaker's Holiday' (1949) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors I' (1991) [full citation]; Wills, 146 (1993) [full citation]]

?actor, ISLE OF DOGS; Abdolmelec, BATTLE OF ALCAZAR; Tartar, Mango Cham, 1 TAMAR CHAM;


Duke, John

(d.1613). Actor (Strange's circa1590; Chamberlain's 1598; Worcester's 1602-3; Queen Anne's 1604-09. [ES ii, 314 [full citation]; Nungezer, 121 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 45 (1931) [full citation]; JCS ii, 428 [full citation]; Sisson, 'Notes', 27 (1942) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors I', 47 (1991) [full citation]; Wills, 230 (1993) [full citation]]

Pursuivant "Induction," Soldier "Envy," Will Fool "Sloth," Lord "Lechery," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS; actor, EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR;


Goodale, Thomas

(circa1557-1610<). Actor (Berkeley's 1581; Strange's circa1590). [ES ii, 319 [full citation]; Denkinger, 'St. Botolph Aldgate', 100 (1926) [full citation]; Nungezer, 155 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 45 (1931) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors II', 455 (1991) [full citation]]

Lucias "Envy," Phronesias & Messenger "Sloth," Lord "Lechery," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS; Messenger, SIR THOMAS MORE (III.i) (the marginal note in MORE may be Collier's forgery);


Goughe, Robert

(buried 19 February 1624/5) (Goffe, Gough). Actor (Strange's 1592, Chamberlain's-King's 1594-1619), sharer?. [ES ii, 319 [full citation]; Bentley, 'Shakespeare's Fellows' (1928) [full citation]; Nungezer, 157 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 46 (1931) [full citation]; Riddell, 'Actors', 294 (1969) [full citation]]

?Aspasia "Sloth," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS; Memphonius, SECOND MAIDEN'S TRAGEDY; Leidenberch, BARNAVELT;


[?]Harry (I)

(fl. 1590). Boy actor (Strange's?). (= Condell?) [Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 46 (1931) [full citation]]


[?]Heminges, John

(1566-1630) (Heminge, Hemminge, Hemminges). Actor (Queen's?; Strange's 1593; Chamberlain's-King's 1594-1630), sharer. (Husband of Rebecca Edwards Knell Heminges; father of William Heminges; father-in-law of William Ostler) [ES ii, 320 [full citation]; Nungezer, 179 [full citation]; JCS ii, 465 [full citation]; Nosworthy, 'John Heminges' (1949) [full citation]; Riddell, 'Actors', 293 (1969) [full citation]; Bergeron, 'Actors', 26 (1972) [full citation]; Bawcutt, 'New Revels Documents', 326 (1984) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors II', 457 (1991) [full citation]; Wills, 164 (1993) [full citation]; Wilson, Shakespeare: The Evidence (1993) [full citation]; Edmond, 'Yeomen', 33 (1996) [full citation]]

John Roberts, in Answer to Pope identifies him as a tragedian: actor, EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR; EVERY MAN OUT OF HIS HUMOUR; himself "Induction," MALCONTENT; actor, SEJANUS; VOLPONE; ALCHEMIST; CATILINE; performer, MIDDLE TEMPLE AND LINCOLN'S INN MASK;


Holland, John

(fl. 1590). Actor (Strange's). [ES ii, 324 [full citation]; Nungezer, 195 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 46 (1931) [full citation]; Maguire, 'John Holland' (1986) [full citation]]

Warder "Induction," Attendant "Envy," Captain "Sloth," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS;


Kemp, William

(d.1603?). Actor (Leicester's 1585-6; Strange's 1592; Chamberlain's 1594-1599; Worcester's 1602-3), sharer. [ES ii, 325 [full citation]; Wright, 'Will Kemp and the Commedia Dell'Arte' (1926) [full citation]; Nungezer, 216 [full citation]; Gray, 'Roles of William Kemp' (1930) [full citation]; Baldwin, 'William Kemp not Falstaff' (1931) [full citation]; Gray, 'Shakespeare and Will Kemp' (1931) [full citation]; Bald, 'Leicester's Men' (1943) [full citation]; Feldman, 'Playwrights and Pike-Trailers' (1953) [full citation]; Mithal, 'Jesting Player' (1958) [full citation]; Bald, 'Jesting Player' (1959) [full citation]; Mithal, 'Mr. Kemp' (1960) [full citation]; Sjogren, 'Thomas Bull', 121 (1969) [full citation]; MacLean, 'Leicester and the Evelyns', 489-93 (1988) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors III', 293 (1992) [full citation]; MacLean, 'Politics', 180 (1993) [full citation]]

actor, EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR; Peter, ROMEO AND JULIET; Dogberry, ADO;


?Kit

(fl. 1590). Actor (Strange's?). (= Christopher Beeston?) [Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 46 (1931) [full citation]]


Lee, Robert

(circa1569-1629) (Leigh). Actor (Strange's circa1590?; ?Worcester's; Queen Anne's-Revels 1604-12, 1618), sharer, playwright(?). [ES ii, 328; iii, 407 [full citation]; Denkinger, 'St. Botolph Aldgate', 102 (1926) [full citation]; Nungezer, 235 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 47 (1931) [full citation]; JCS ii, 496 [full citation]; Sisson, 'Notes', 28 (1942) [full citation]; Sisson, 'Red Bull Company' (1954) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors III', 296 (1992) [full citation]; Wills, 162 (1993) [full citation]]
Attendant, DEAD MAN'S FORTUNE;


'Ned'

(fl. 1590). Actor in 2 Seven Deadly Sins (Strange's). [ES ii, 330 [full citation]; Nungezer, 259 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 47 (1931) [full citation]]

Rhodope "Sloth," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS;


'Nick'

(fl. 1590-1603). Actor (possibly more than one person) (possibly Nicholas Tooley) (Strange's circa1590, Admiral's 1601-3). [ES ii, 330 [full citation]; Nungezer, 260 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 47 (1931) [full citation]]

Lady, ?Pompeia, "Sloth," 2SEVEN DEADLY SINS; ?actor, TAMING OF THE SHREW;


Pallant, Robert (I)

(circa1570s?—1619, buried 4 September, St. Savior's, Southwark). Actor (Strange's 1592; Worcester's-Queen Anne's 1602-13; Lady Elizabeth's 1614; Prince Charles' (I) 1616; Queen Anne's 1619. (Father of Robert Pallant (II)) [ES ii, 331 [full citation]; Bentley, 'Shakespeare's Fellows' (1928) [full citation]; Nungezer, 263 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 48 (1931) [full citation]; JCS ii, 518 [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors III', 299 (1992) [full citation]]

Warder "Induction," Attendant, Soldier, Dardan "Envy," Nicanor "Sloth," ?Julio "Lechery," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS;


Phillips, Augustine

(d.1605). Actor (Strange's/Admiral's 1590-1; Strange's 1593; Chamberlain's-King's 1598-1604), sharer. (Husband of Anne Phillips Witter) [ES ii, 333 [full citation]; Denkinger, 'St. Botolph Aldgate', 105 (1926) [full citation]; Bentley, 'Shakespeare's Fellows' (1928) [full citation]; Nungezer, 280 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 48 (1931) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors III', 300 (1992) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors IV', 165 (1993) [full citation]; Wills, 72 (1993) [full citation]; Cerasano, 'Henslowe/Forman', 156 (1993) [full citation]]

Sardanapalus "Sloth," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS; actor, EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR; EVERY MAN OUT OF HIS HUMOUR; ?RICHARD II;


Pig, John

(fl. 1593-99) (Pik, Pyge, Pigge). Boy actor (Strange's 1593, Admiral's 1597-99) (Edward Alleyn's boy). [ES ii, 335 [full citation]; Nungezer, 283 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 60 (1931) [full citation]]

Alice Pierce, ALICE PIERCE (lost); actor, TROILUS AND CRESSIDA (1599);


Pope, Thomas

(d.circa 1603; fl. 1586-1603). Actor (Germany/Denmark 1586-7; Strange's/Admiral's 1590-1; Strange's 1593; Chamberlain's 1597-1603), sharer. [ES ii, 334 [full citation]; Nungezer, 285 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 48 (1931) [full citation]; Sjogren, 'Thomas Bull', 121 (1969) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors III', 301 (1992) [full citation]; Wills, 68 (1993) [full citation]]

Arbactus "Sloth," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS; actor, EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR; EVERY MAN OUT OF HIS HUMOUR;


Saunder

(fl. 1590). Boy actor (Strange's). (= Alexander Cooke?) [Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 49 (1931) [full citation]]


Sincler, John

(fl. 1590-1604) (Sinklo, Sincklo). Actor (Strange's circa1590; Pembroke's (?) circa1592-3; Germany 1596; Chamberlain's circa1598; King's 1604). [ES ii, 339 [full citation]; Nungezer, 326 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 49 (1931) [full citation]; Schrickx, 'German Archives', 155 (1982) [full citation]; Schrickx, Foreign Envoys, 127 (1986) [full citation]; Eccles, 'Actors IV', 168 (1993) [full citation]]

Keeper "Induction," Soldier "Envy," Captain, Musician "Sloth," ?Mercury "Lechery," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS; enters with crossbow, 3 HENRY VI; player, "Induction," TAMING OF THE SHREW; Beadle, 2 HENRY IV (V.iv.1); himself, "Induction," MALCONTENT; evidence exists that he might have been a thin actor;


Sly, William

(1573?—1608, buried 16 August, St. Leonard's, Shoreditch). Actor (Strange's circa1590; Chamberlain's-King's 1597-1605), playwright(?). [ES ii, 340; iii, 493 [full citation]; Nungezer, 331 [full citation]; Bentley, 'St. Giles Cripplegate', 821 (1929) [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 50 (1931) [full citation]; Wills, 80 (1993) [full citation]]

Porrex "Envy," Lord "Lechery," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS; himself, "Induction," MALCONTENT; actor, EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR; EVERY MAN OUT OF HIS HUMOUR; SEJANUS; VOLPONE;


Symons, John

(fl. 1583-9). Actor/tumbler (Strange's 1583; Oxford's 1585; Strange's 1586-8?; Queen's 1588-9?). [ES ii, 341 [full citation]; Nungezer, 346 [full citation]]


?Vincent

(fl. 1590-1). Actor/musician (Strange's?) (same as George Vincent? or Thomas Vincent (I)?). [ES ii, 348 [full citation]; Nungezer, 386 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 50 (1931) [full citation]]

Musician "Sloth," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS;


'Will'

(fl. 1590-7). Actor (1590 Strange's). [ES ii, 348 [full citation]; Nungezer, 392 [full citation]; Greg, Dramatic Documents i, 50, 66 (1931) [full citation]]

Itys "Lechery," 2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS;