The Lord Chamberlain’s Men emerged in London around 1594, during a period of upheaval in the professional theatre. Henry Carey, Lord Chamberlain and the official responsible for court entertainments, became its first patron. After Carey’s death, the company briefly took the name Lord Hunsdon’s Men before returning to its original title when George Carey became Lord Chamberlain.
The company’s fortunes were shaped by the Burbage family. James Burbage organized and directed the troupe, while his son Richard became its leading actor, creating or performing roles such as Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth. William Shakespeare was both actor and sharer, though his importance as a playwright increasingly dominated his contribution. Other important members included William Kempe, Augustine Phillips, Henry Condell, and John Heminges.
The troupe played at The Theatre and the Curtain before constructing the Globe in 1599. The Globe burned in 1613, was rebuilt, and remained open until the theatres were closed in 1642. From 1609, performances at the smaller indoor Blackfriars Theatre enabled year-round activity and higher ticket prices.
Shakespeare’s works formed the company’s core repertory, alongside plays by Ben Jonson and other dramatists. The company competed successfully with other leading troupes, performed at court, toured Britain, and visited France and Belgium. Its members became briefly entangled in the 1601 Essex rebellion after performing Richard II, but escaped punishment.
James I’s accession in 1603 changed everything: royal patronage transformed the company into the King’s Men, while Condell and Heminges later helped preserve its Shakespearean legacy through the First Folio.