The Final Years

Abstract

Both The Late Lancashire Witches and The Witch of Edmonton appeared in the later part of the dramatists’ careers, after a break during which Dekker was in prison for debt, and Heywood extended his writing into compilations of classical stories, a prose account of the reign of Elizabeth and other non-dramatic material.¹ The configuration of the theatrical scene to which they returned was rather different. The King’s Men playing at both the Globe and Blackfriars dominated the theatrical scene, but were challenged by Beeston who had organised the former Red Bull companies at the new Cockpit in Drury Lane. Work for Beeston dominated both dramatists’ later careers² and showed the continual experiment and variety of dramatic form which was a mark of their professional engagement with all the opportunities of the contemporary stage.