The University of Cambridge's rich history of student playwriting is a fascinating topic that often goes overlooked. While modern stars like Stephen Fry are celebrated, the early modern 'University Wits' played a pivotal role in shaping the Cambridge theatre scene. These playwrights, including Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Nashe, and Robert Greene, left an indelible mark on English drama, and their influence can still be felt today.
Marlowe, best known for The Tragedy of Dr. Faustus, attended Cambridge in 1580, a time when the university was deeply rooted in educational and leisure traditions. His play Tamburlaine the Great, written during his time at Corpus Christi College, explores themes of murder, politics, and power, seemingly detached from the academic context. This contrast highlights the unique opportunity for Cambridge theatre students to engage with such diverse subjects.
Nashe, a friend of Marlowe, attended St John's College and earned a Lady Margaret scholarship. His works, such as the picaresque novel The Unfortunate Traveller, often engaged with history and urban settings. Nashe's plays, like Marlowe's, were known for their critical thinking and engagement with contemporary issues, reflecting a desire to connect with the world around them.
Robert Greene, another early modern playwright, attended Cambridge in the same century. He is renowned for his reworking of romance novels and his pamphlets, which included personal warnings to fellow playwrights. Greene's comedy, The Honorable Historie of frier Bacon, and frier Bongay, played with medieval romance, and his prose in Pandosto inspired Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. While records of his Cambridge time are scarce, his education there undoubtedly influenced his writing.
What's striking about these playwrights is their ability to engage with social and political contexts. Marlowe explored religion, Nashe examined class, and Greene interrogated literary history. This critical thinking and engagement with current issues are still fostered in the Cambridge curriculum today, ensuring that the university continues to produce playwrights who make a lasting impact on English drama.
The influence of these early modern playwrights extends beyond their own time. Cambridge has produced countless thespians, including Emma Thompson, Peter Shaffer, and Sir David Hare, and the tradition of student playwriting continues. The University's independent newspaper, Varsity, relies on advertising for funding, and readers are encouraged to support it with donations to maintain its editorial independence.
In conclusion, the early modern 'University Wits' played a crucial role in shaping Cambridge's theatre scene and English drama as a whole. Their works continue to inspire and influence playwrights, directors, and actors, ensuring that the Cambridge tradition of critical thinking and engagement with the world around them endures.
