Excavations at the sites of two famous playhouses of Tudor London, the Rose and the Globe in Southwark, provided physical evidence for the size, layout and development of these playhouses; they are presented here in detail for the first time in 400 years.The hundreds of individual structural elements, objects and plant and animal remains found are described and, together with the freshly researched documentary sources on Shakespearean theatre, fully integrated into the chronological narratives and thematic discussions of every aspect of the playhouses. This archaeological report aims to integrate all strands of evidence and appeal to a wider audience of those interested in the history and development of the theatre