Salisbury Court Theatre

The Salisbury Court Theatre was a 17th-century playhouse in the City of London. It stood west of the medieval walls, between Fleet Street and the Thames, on land once part of Dorset House. The site had been a bishop’s London residence before becoming a private theatre for wealthy audiences. It replaced earlier venues like the Whitefriars and Porter’s Hall theatres nearby. The building itself was a converted barn or granary, enclosed and smaller than open-air playhouses such as the Globe. The theatre became a key rival to Christopher Beeston’s Cockpit and Red Bull theatres during the 1630s. Companies like the King’s Revels Men and Queen Henrietta’s Men performed there under managers including Richard Gunnell and William Blagrave. After the Puritan closure of 1642, players continued secretly until authorities raided and destroyed it in 1649. It briefly reopened after the Restoration in 1660, hosting the Duke’s Company before moving to Lisle’s Tennis Court. Little remains of the original structure, though a plaque marks its location near Salisbury Square. Inigo Jones’s small-theatre design may resemble its layout, given the 13-metre-wide plot. Samuel Pepys recorded seeing plays there in early 1661, including works by Fletcher and Massinger with actors like Thomas Betterton. The Great Fire of 1666 ended the building, which was later replaced by Christopher Wren’s Dorset Garden Theatre.