James Burbage
James Burbage (1530–35 – 2 February 1597) was an English actor, theatre impresario, joiner, and theatre builder in the English Renaissance theatre. He built The Theatre, the first permanent dedicated theatre built in England since Roman times.
Life
James Burbage was born about 1531, probably in Bromley in Kent. He was apprenticed in London to the trade of joiner, and must have persevered through his apprenticeship and taken up his freedom, as in 1559 he was referred to as a joiner twice in the St Stephen's register.
Career
Burbage took up acting and was the leader of Leicester's Men by 1572. Burbage had various talents, e.g. an actor, builder, and theatre owner; he was heavily involved in groups concerning theater. He was said to be a theatre professional "who bridged the gap between late-medieval drama in England and the flowering of the great Elizabethan Theatre." Burbage was described as handsome in appearance, charming in manor, honest, tactful, and witty by Sir Robert Dudley, patron of Leicester's Men. Another professional acquaintance depicted James as more motivated by commerce than by art because of his dependency on financial success.