Genius Walked Here: a Surviving Stage Where Shakespeare Performed Was Found in the UK

A 600-year-old oak plank, discovered during renovations at the British Theatre in Norfolk County, is considered a part of the world's only surviving theater stage where William Shakespeare performed.

This was reported by the BBC.

St. George's Guildhall Theatre in the city of King's Lynn is considered one of the oldest functioning theaters in the entire United Kingdom. The theater was founded back in 1445.

Recently, Guildhall Theatre underwent major renovations. Beneath several layers of modern flooring, wooden planks dating back to the 15th century were found. These planks had been concealed from view over 75 years ago when a new floor was installed in the theater.

The theater believes that these planks bear witness to the performances of the English playwright and actor, William Shakespeare. The administration of St. George's Guildhall claims to possess documents indicating that Shakespeare performed here in 1592 or 1593. During that time, acting troupes were leaving London in large numbers to escape the plague. In this period, the theatrical company of the Earl of Pembroke, in which, it is believed, a young Shakespeare performed, visited King's Lynn.

"We have a district ledger for the years 1592-93 that records that the district paid Shakespeare's troupe to come and perform on this stage," said Tim FitzHigham, the creative director of the Guildhall, in a comment to the BBC.

According to Dr. Jonathan Clark, an expert in historical buildings who was involved in the theater's research, to determine the age of the wood, tree rings were initially examined. However, the unusual construction of the floor itself later caught the expert's attention, as the planks were initially joined together and then attached to massive bridge beams. This became the primary evidence that the floor was constructed in the 15th century.

"We know that these [planks] were definitely here in 1592, and in 1592, as we believe, Shakespeare performed in King's Lynn, so this is likely the very surface that Shakespeare walked on," emphasized Clark.

It is worth noting that discussions about whether Shakespeare actually performed in King's Lynn have been ongoing for several years, but it appears that this discovery may be of decisive importance.

Professor of Shakespeare and Early Modern Drama at the University of Birmingham, Michael Dobson, believes that the evidence that Shakespeare was indeed there still needs to be gathered convincingly, but at the same time, he already finds them quite persuasive.