Rose Theatre Exhibition
A conservation-led display around the archaeological remains of the Rose, the 1587 Bankside playhouse built by Philip Henslowe. Visitors encounter the plan of the theatre, watch footage from the 1989 excavations, and learn how Marlowe, Alleyn and the Admiral’s Men helped shape the early Elizabethan stage here.
Opening Hours
What's not to miss inside?
Foundations Under Water
Explains why the Rose’s remains are kept damp and partially covered to prevent decay.An illuminated outline and interpretation panels turn a protective water layer into a drawing of the original stage and yard.
📍 Excavation pit and viewing platform
Playbills of the Admiral’s Men
Links the site to its resident company, led by actor Edward Alleyn and managed by Henslowe.Diary extracts and title pages connect the Rose to marquee works by Christopher Marlowe, including ‘Doctor Faustus’ and ‘Tamburlaine’.
📍 Display boards by the viewing area
1989: Discovery & Campaign
Covers the modern story—how developers’ groundwork revealed the theatre and a public campaign saved it.News clips and site photos show archaeologists documenting timbers and drains while theatre lovers lobbied for preservation.
📍 Film loop and posters
Inspire your Friends
- The Rose opened in 1587, predating the Globe; it was built by Philip Henslowe on Bankside and became home to the Admiral’s Men with star actor Edward Alleyn.
- Plays by Christopher Marlowe—such as ‘Doctor Faustus’ and ‘Tamburlaine’—were performed at the Rose, making the site central to the meteoric rise of Elizabethan drama.
- Archaeologists uncovered the theatre’s footprint in 1989; to stabilise fragile remains, the site is kept damp under a protective layer and traced with light for visitors.
