The Dream Factory: London's First Playhouse and the Making of William Shakespeare

“One of the most exciting and original books about Shakespeare that I’ve read in years.”—James Shapiro The remarkable untold story of Shakespeare’s first theatre – the playhouse before the Globe In 1576, in a muddy field in Shoreditch, James Burbage erected London’s first purpose-built commercial playhouse. A place of high culture and quick profit, run by cunning dreamers, the Theatre for the first time offered London’s players the chance to control what they staged. At a time when playgoing was held to be close to a sin, this entertainment factory was a flashpoint for controversy – but would also become Shakespeare’s first theatre, where he learned to ply his trade before his company moved to the Globe.   Through the life of this little-known playhouse, Daniel Swift tells the story of how Shakespeare became Shakespeare, and the Elizabethan stage began to flourish. Introducing us to the businessmen who dreamed up the Theatre, the carpenters who built it, the preachers who hated it, and the actors who performed upon its small stage, The Dream Factory recreates the world that produced Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream – and the audiences who first saw them.  

About the Author :
Daniel Swift is associate professor in English at Northeastern University London. He is the author of The Bughouse: The Poetry, Politics and Madness of Ezra Pound, Shakespeare’s Common Prayers and Bomber County. He writes for the New York Times, New Statesman and Spectator.  

Review :
“Swift’s deftly written, engaging rescue of this playhouse from comparative obscurity (except for early modern theatre historians) will deservedly be read by many who love theatre, but don’t know about the Theatre.”—Peter Holland, Times Literary Supplement “Deftly navigating social politics, the plague and preachers wishing for the Theatre’s downfall, Swift tells its history in the most original way.”—Zuzanna Lachendro, New Statesman “Refreshing [and] accessible.”—Will Tosh, Spectator “A thrilling account . . . a story I thought I knew but didn’t. Swift brightly illuminates that raucous, scrappy, litigious world.”—Greg Doran, The Week “A fresh, original and totally convincing impression of Shakespeare: not so much the solitary genius as the grafter, craftsman and company man who is part of the seven-strong syndicate that takes shares in the Globe.”—Michael Billington, Country Life “Reading this highly-detailed and meticulous work the phrase ‘labour of love’ springs to mind and this ‘love’s labour’ is not lost! Written with passion, it is a worthy introduction not only to the early years of our greatest dramatist, but Elizabethan society in every aspect.”—Geoff Floyd, Methodist Recorder “[A] thrilling contribution to the search for Shakespeare.”—Mark Lawson, The Tablet “A boldly original book. . . . Swift writes beautifully.”—Andy Kesson, BBC History Magazine “Stimulating.”—Nick Higham, Literary Review “The Dream Factory is one of the most exciting and original books about Shakespeare that I’ve read in years. Deeply researched, beautifully written, it brings to life how Shakespeare ‘became Shakespeare’ and created his early masterpieces at the Theatre in Shoreditch. A thrilling story, well told.”—James Shapiro, author of 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare “Sometimes mysteries hide in plain sight and it takes an insightful, patient and astute writer to uncover them. Thanks to Daniel Swift’s brilliant research we now know that Shakespeare’s first playhouse, the Theatre, was just as important to him as The Globe.”—Andrew Hadfield, author of Edmund Spenser “The Dream Factory brilliantly shows how Shakespeare was not merely a man of the theatre but a man of The Theatre, the playhouse where he developed the mastery of his art.”—David Scott Kastan, author of A Will to Believe