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Archaeologists have uncovered the oldest stage dating back to Shakespeare's time in the hall of the oldest town hall in Britain. It is believed that William Shakespeare himself participated in performing one of his plays on it.
The Times notes that “the mentioned stage is made of oak and is considered the oldest and only stage remaining from Shakespeare’s time. It was discovered in St. George’s Town Hall in Norfolk County, which dates back to the Middle Ages and is considered the oldest hall in Britain.”
The stage was discovered during the restoration and maintenance operations that the hall is undergoing, under two modern layers of the hall’s floor dating back to the 1950s and the second to the seventeenth or nineteenth century. The stage is made of oak boards and based on the technique of laying boards and analyzing wood, it was built between 1417 and 1430. According to the newspaper.
The city hall was built at the beginning of the fifteenth century, and was originally intended for religious meetings, but was later transformed into a theater. Shakespeare is believed to have performed it in 1593, when London's theaters were closed due to the plague, and he and his troupe toured. The foundation's account records confirm that Shakespeare and his troupe received their full financial dues after the show ended. According to the newspaper.
It is noteworthy that William Shakespeare was an English playwright, whose works were translated into all major languages in the world. His plays form the basis of the international theatrical repertoire, in addition to most of them having been filmed several times in movies.
Source: Novosti - Publication date: 10/13/2023