Henry Evans (theatre)

Henry Evans
Nationality	England
Occupation	Scrivener, theatre impresario
Years active	1583–1612

Henry Evans (c. 1543 – after 1612) was the Welsh scrivener and theatrical producer primarily responsible (apparently with the active collaboration of John Lyly) for organising and co-ordinating the activities of the Children of the Chapel and the Children of Paul's at Blackfriars Theatre for a short period in 1583–84. He later led a consortium of investors who leased the theatre during a much longer second phase, after the property was revived by Richard Burbage and Cuthbert Burbage.

Theatre historian David Grote describes Evans as an "unsavoury" and "devious" character who was not above kidnapping young boys to perform in his theatre.

In 1583 William Hunnis and John Newman transferred their sub-lease of property in the Blackfriars, which was being legally contested by the owner, Sir William More, to Evans. This was part of a complicated series of transactions apparently designed to ensure that the building could continue to be used as a theatre, something More was attempting to stop. Evans seems to have been working in alliance with John Lyly and his patron Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford. In 1584 More regained control of the building and stopped performances.

In 1585 Evans was head of the Earl of Oxford's Boys at court.

It has been suggested that during this period Evans may have written the play the Famous Victories of Henry V, one of the principal models for Shakespeare's later plays on the life of Henry. However, the authorship of the play is uncertain.

In partnership with musician Nathaniel Giles, Evans obtained the lease of the Blackfriars property for the second time in 1599, after the building had been acquired by James Burbage, father of Richard and Cuthbert. This helped the Burbages out of a problem, since after their father acquired it in 1596 wealthy local citizens had successfully petitioned to stop the building being used again as a theatre. In consequence, it had been left empty for several years. Evans intended to use it to support a company of boys, as he had before 1590. By installing child "choristers", and setting aside part of building for their education, Evans could claim that the theatre was legally a school: one in which plays happened to be performed. Evans apparently supplemented his choristers by taking talented children from local grammar schools, which he could do because his business partner Nathaniel Giles, Hunnis's successor at the Chapel Royal, had a warrant to provide performers for the queen's entertainment. In 1600 the father of one child attempted to sue Evans for forcing his son to join the Blackfriars troupe.

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