11 January, 1594 - Huon of Bordeaux

Here's what the Earl of Sussex's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

18th century French Huon text

Today, Sussex's Men revived their chivalric adventure, Huon of Bordeaux, which they had last performed just over a week ago. This play was based on the epic French tale about a knight who travels to Babylon to steal the Admiral's teeth with the help of Oberon, Kng of the Fairies. You can read more about Huon of Bordeaux in the entry for 27th December.


Today, Huon did something remarkable: it achieved the lowest box office recorded so far in Henslowe's Diary! Its measly five shillings is even lower than the 7 recorded for a performance of A Looking-Glass for London and England back in 1592. We don't know what caused this catastrophe - awful weather or a sudden attack of apathy for all things chivalric? - but this must have been an embarrassing day for Sussex's Men as the voices of Huon and Oberon echoed around a near-empty theatre.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

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