Reader's Feast | Master Philip Bartle | Middle Temple and Jacobean Drama: The dramatists and Middle Templars John Webster, John Ford and John Marston

This dinner in Hall is followed by a reading by the Lent Reader to celebrate their time in office. 

On 19th June 2024, at the Reader’s Feast, the subject of Master Bartle’s talk will be “Middle Temple and Jacobean Drama: the dramatists and Middle Templars John Webster, John Marston and John Ford”.

Webster (c.1578 – c1626)  wrote the masterpieces “The White Devil” and “The Duchess of Malfi” – still regularly performed 400 years after they were written.  Marston  (1576 -1634) wrote “The Malcontent” and, with Chapman and Ben Jonson,  “Eastward Ho”  . Ford  (1586 – c. 1639) wrote “Tis Pity She’s A Whore” and, with Dekker and Rowley “The Witch of Edmonton”

They also collaborated with each other. Webster and Ford wrote a lost play “Late Murder in Whitechapel” with Rowley & Dekker. Webster and Ford contributed to “The Fair Maid of The Inn” written principally by Fletcher. In a commendatory verse on the publication of “The Duchess of Malfi”, Ford wrote that the play was “a lasting flame to raise his monument”. Marston is acknowledged as Webster’s mentor. Webster wrote an induction and additional scenes for “The Malcontent” when it was revived.

Marston’s career as a dramatist lasted about 10 years and ended when he became a priest.

These playwrights were all members of Middle Temple which, together with the other Inns of Court, were collectively  known as “the Third University of England” and described by Ben Jonson as “the noblest nurseries of humanity and liberty in the Kingdom”. “For many, probably the majority, the Inns were a finishing school:  a place to mingle with the “creame o’th kingdome”, to sample the glories of the great capital city, and perhaps incidentally to acquire some useful knowledge including the law”  from “John Marston and the Middle Temple” by P.J Finkelpearl.

Marston was admitted in 1594, Webster in 1598 and Ford in 1602. Like the majority of members of the Inn at that time, none became barristers. Webster’s father was a successful coachmaker. Marston’s father was Reader of Middle Temple and he shared rooms with his father. Ford’s great uncle was Lord Chief Justice Popham who presided over the trial of Walter Raleigh.

“The three dramatists Marston Webster Ford are closely linked in a way which illuminates the great plays and their significant works follow from the common membership of a society where literature was diligently cultivated”: from “John Webster” by Muriel Bradbrook.

The talk will look at the lives of these playwrights and the influence of Midde Temple on them and their work.

Philip Franks, actor and director, who has directed “The Duchess of Malfi”. “The White Devil” and   “The Witch of Edmonton”  will talk about these playwrights from a director’s perspective.

The event will end with readings from some of their plays.

Please note that there are certain rules and customs that members and guests are expected to observe when attending formal dinners at the Inn.

Student/Hall Members: Guests welcome, maximum three per member

Benchers: Benchers are welcome to bring a guest.

If you (or your guests) have any dietary requirements please ensure that you provide this information when you book tickets.  If you did not do so, please inform the Inn no later than 09:00 two working days before the event. 

If you (or your guests) are unsure about anything on the evening please speak to the events staff on duty.

The menu for the evening will be confirmed nearer the time.

Non-alcoholic alternatives will be provided on request.

Further details on dietary requirements

This event does not count as a Qualifying Session.

If you have questions about accessibility at the Inn or if you would like to request support, please email Laura Hacon.

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