Rutland House, Theater in Aldersgate Street, London, GB
Rutland House was a theater on Aldersgate Street in London that converted a narrow back room into a performance space with a small stage and hidden orchestra area above. The audience sat on improvised benches angled toward the stage, which was framed by purple and gold curtains.
Sir William Davenant leased the building in 1656 and converted a room into a private theater while the Puritan government banned public performances. The first English opera, The Siege of Rhodes, premiered here in May 1656.
The venue took its name from the building on Aldersgate Street, where music and theater were deeply intertwined as art forms. Visitors could observe how performers blended these disciplines together, creating a space where different forms of expression coexisted on a tiny stage.
The theater was small and intimate, so access was restricted and seating was limited. Visitors should understand that the space was cramped and attendance was deliberately kept exclusive to maintain the venue's private nature.
Davenant found a clever way around the censorship: he presented theatrical performances as musical events, since the authorities allowed music but prohibited traditional drama. This made the venue a testing ground for a new art form in England.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
