Richard Burbage was the leading player of Lord Chamberlain's Men, a group that performed several of William Shakespeare's plays. Along with his brother Cuthbert Burbage, Richard owned the Globe Theatre. (PROSE: Diary Extract)
History
In 1599, Burbage saw a Carrionite in the Globe Theatre. He was with Will Kempe at the time and they decided not to tell anyone so they would not be suspected of madness. (TV: The Shakespeare Code)
In late 1601, Burbage visited an inn and listened to Shakespeare's outline of the play Twelfth Night with the Fifth Doctor. (PROSE: Diary Extract)
After seeing Burbage in the debut performance of King Lear, the First Doctor considered him a good actor, if "rubbish at portraying old men crushed by the delicious uncertainties of life." (PROSE: Byzantium!)
Behind the scenes
- He was played by Martin Clunes in the film Shakespeare in Love.