Normally I wouldn't do any explaining for a challenge, but seeing as we've broken new ground and not everyone spent their undergraduate degrees playing with Bess's thespians (hehehe)...
Inigo Jones was an architect and designer for Elizabeth (and later James I), and he was responsible for many a beautiful building. It was he who brought the concept of the proscenium arch to England from Italy (that's the lovely frame around a stage). He worked with the playwrite Ben Jonson on a great many Palace masques (a sort of theatrical procession meets play, and often starring the ladies of the court), and the two famously fell out over a long running feud about what was more important to theatre - design or prose. More than just a great artist, Jones left us a great many fabulous sketches of clever costuming, or scenery that was revolutionary to the theatre at the time.
Oliver Cromwell wound up the Lord Protector of England after the execution of Charles I. A time of fiercely Protestant, Puritan change, under his 'rule' such popular (but not necessarily Godly) diversions as theatre were banned, and anything resembling Catholic worship destroyed.
A fascinating time period, and not strictly Tudor, but I am unapologetic! Marvelous stories, everyone. Congratulations to both TDZ and Hex!
