William Kempe was an actor, mainly of comic roles, in the plays of William Shakespeare plays during their first performances in the Elizabethan era. He left the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the company of which he and Shakespeare were members, in 1599 following a disagreement.
A year later in 1600 he completed what was known as his Nine Days Wonder, when he morris danced from London to Norwich in an attempt to garner publicity and revive his career. The design here is a reproduction of the frontispiece of the book he wrote about his escapade. It shows Kempe accompmanied on his marathon dance by a pipe and tabor player.
A year later in 1600 he completed what was known as his Nine Days Wonder, when he morris danced from London to Norwich in an attempt to garner publicity and revive his career. The design here is a reproduction of the frontispiece of the book he wrote about his escapade. It shows Kempe accompmanied on his marathon dance by a pipe and tabor player.