What acting company was Shakespeare connected with?

Answer 1

In the early part if his career, possibly 1590 to 1594, Shakespeare may have been associated with Queen Elizabeth's Men, Lord Strange's Men, and/or Pembroke's Men as an actor and/or a playwright. In '94 he joined Lord Hunsdon's Men as a founding shareholder. When Hunsdon became the Lord Chamberlain of England, the company took that name. When he died, the company reverted to the original name until young Hunsdon was also appointed Lord Chamberlain, when the company resumed it second name. In 1603, upon the ascension of James I, the company took on the title of its new patron and became the King's Men. The King's Men continued under that name until Parliament closed all of the theaters in 1642.

Answer 2

During Queen Elizabeth's life the name of the acting company was The Lord Chamberlain's Men, after their patron, Henry Carey, the Lord Chamberlain. After she died, her successor James I, became their patron, and the company's name became The King's Men. All acting companies took their names from their patrons to prove that they had patrons and who they were in case someone challenged their right to be an acting company.

Answer 3

There are no solid records of Shakespeare in his early period, before 1594. We know he established himself in London as a playwright and an actor by 1592. He may have worked in one or both capacities with Queen Elizabeth's Man, Pembroke's Men, Derby's Men, Strange's Men, all of them, or none of them, but these are the likeliest candidates.

Answer 4

Lord Chamberlain's Men