The Curtain was one of the first purpose-built playhouses in London. It stood in Shoreditch from the 1570s, when the area just outside the City walls became London’s first theatre district. Historians believe Romeo and Juliet and Henry V were first staged there, before Shakespeare’s company moved to the Globe at the end of the 16th century.
The excavation
Archaeologists from MOLA, the Museum of London Archaeology, excavated the site in 2016 before the building of The Stage, a development of homes, offices and shops off Curtain Road. They found the remains of the playhouse, which was rectangular rather than round like the Globe.
The Museum of Shakespeare
The preserved remains are the centre of a new visitor attraction, the Museum of Shakespeare, on Hewett Street. It tells the story of the playhouse and the plays performed there. The museum was due to open in 2026, but an opening date, hours and ticket prices had not been announced in October 2026. Made in Shoreditch will update this page when they are.
The essentials
- Site: The Stage, Hewett Street, London EC2A 3NL
- Nearest stations: Shoreditch High Street, Old Street and Liverpool Street
- Museum: Museum of Shakespeare, opening date to be announced
Read the earlier report on the plans for the Shakespeare museum in Shoreditch.