A gifted young country singer is discovered by a travelling theatrical company and drawn into the world of Elizabethan stagecraft. The narrative follows his removal from home, journey with the players to the capital, apprenticeship and growth as a performer, encounters with companions and rivals, episodes of danger and displacement, and the chance to sing before the queen. Interwoven are scenes of towns, inns, rehearsals, and ceremonies that chart his moral and artistic development and lead to a settled resolution of his fortunes.