John Stow observes that religious dramas use to be performed in the city, but in recent times the trend has shifted to secular plays, to which end public stages like the Theatre and Curtain have been erected: 'Of late time in place of those Stage playes, hath beene vsed Comedies, Tragedies, enterludes, and histories, both true and fayned: For the acting whereof certaine publike places, as the Theater, the Curtine, &c. haue beene erected.'