Picture of an Inn-Yard Theatre Performance
The Paul's Theatre
In the Elizabethan era the young members of the choirs were also encouraged to participate in drama. In 1575, Sebastian Westcott was running a well-established, small private theatre within the precinct of St. Paul's.
It was well attended and financially successful as it was backed by wealthy patronage. It specialised in presenting entertainments for royal and noble households. Queen Elizabeth I loved the entertainments provided by the young children of these chorister groups which added to the extraordinary popularity of the child acting companies of the fifteenth and sixteenth century.