page_title: Lisle's Tennis Court
hierarchical_section_title: Lisle's Tennis Court
caption_attribution_description: William Davenant, operator of one of the first licensed theatre companies after the Restoration of Charles II in 1660. From The Works of Sir William Davenant, frontispiece, printed by TN for Henry Herringman, London, 1673.
context_page_description: Lisle's Tennis Court was a building off Portugal Street in Lincoln's Inn Fields in London. Originally built as a real tennis court, it was used as a playhouse during two periods, 1661–1674 and 1695–1705. During the early period, the theatre was called Lincoln's Inn Fields Playhouse, also known as The Duke's Playhouse, The New Theatre or The Opera. The building was demolished and replaced by a purpose-built theatre for a third period, 1714–1728. The tennis court theatre was the first public playhouse in London to feature the moveable scenery that would become a standard feature of Restoration theatres.
context_section_description: Lisle's Tennis Court was a building off Portugal Street in Lincoln's Inn Fields in London.  Originally built as a real tennis court, it was used as a playhouse during two periods, 1661–1674 and 1695–1705. During the early period, the theatre was called Lincoln's Inn Fields Playhouse, also known as The Duke's Playhouse, The New Theatre or The Opera.  The building was demolished and replaced by a purpose-built theatre for a third period, 1714–1728.  The tennis court theatre was the first public playhouse in London to feature the moveable scenery that would become a standard feature of Restoration theatres.
caption: William Davenant had Lisle's Tennis Court converted into a theatre in 1661.  His troupe continued to perform there after his death in 1668, until 1671.
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