the year 1576 was a key date in this subject, since that is when the first permanent theatre building was built in london. it was called simply the theatre, because it was the only place of its kind in england at the time. before 1576, plays were acted in public halls and large houses, and in inns and public squares and courtyards and other open spaces, by troops of actors that mostly travelled around the countryside between cities and towns. once the actors had a permanent place to act plays, they could develop their art without the constant need to travel. the theatre was followed by other theatres in the london area; there were the curtain, the rose, the swan, the globe, and others too. more plays were written by more playwrights to fill these theatres.