Red Lion

About

The Red Lion was an Elizabethan playhouse located in Whitechapel (part of the modern Borough of Tower Hamlets), just outside the City of London on the east side. Built in 1567 for John Brayne, citizen and grocer, this was the first known attempt to provide a purpose-built playhouse in London for the many Tudor age touring theatrical companies—and perhaps the first purpose-built venue known to have been built in the city since Roman times. Theatre historian Andrew Gurr regards its establishment as the forerunner and stimulus for all commercial theatre in London. Its existence, however, was short-lived.