Riotous comedy from Shakespeare's successor A grocer and his wife dissatisfied by a play's progress invade the stage and commandeer the play to suit their tastes. They cast their apprentice Rafe in an heroic leading role as the gallant Knight whose banner bears the symbol of the grocer's trade, a pestle. A chaotic play within a play erupts, as each group attempts to carry on despite the unscripted interventions. Meanwhile two young lovers, separated by class and convention, struggle to keep their romance on the rails amidst the disruption.Written in 1607 by Francis Beaumont at the age of 23 who succeeded Shakespeare as the chief dramatist to the King's Men, The Knight of the Burning Pestle was one of the earliest anarchic English comedies. It was revived in September 2005 by the Mercury Theatre Company, the Young Vic and BITE:05, Barbican, as part of YOUNG GENIUS.

This volume presents a fresh new edition of the most important play by one of Shakespeare's most creative contemporaries. Francis Beaumont's The Knight of the Burning Pestle is a free-wheeling, satirical romp through the world of early modern theatre. Hilarious, outrageous, and unpredictable, Beaumont's comedy confounded its first audiences but has since been recognized as a singular comedic gem from the golden age of English playmaking. Todd Pettigrew's new Broadview Edition provides an engaging and up-to-date introduction to the play, a clean, modern edition of the text, and detailed annotations. A rich selection of historical appendices provides additional ways to understand the play's complex literary allusions and cultural contexts.