“One man in his life will play many parts,” said the character Jaques in his famous monologue in William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. If you’re an actor, chances are quite a few of these parts will be written by Shakespeare himself. His canon is a treasure trove of characterisation and language, making it the perfect playground for performers of all genders, ages, and backgrounds.
Coming up with a definitive list of the best Shakespeare plays is a nearly impossible feat, since each one has something eye-grabbing or intriguing or phenomenally significant to say about the world.
Generally separated into three broad categories – comedies, tragedies, and histories – for the sake of cataloguing, Shakespeare hardly stuck to one single genre per play. You will easily find tragedy in a comedy and comedy in a history when analysing his works. Although Shakespeare wrote his plays strictly for the stage, approaching them as texts gives us an insight into the beauty of language and the incandescent world of the human psyche.
Whether you’re ready to make your whole world a stage or you simply want to read what the Bard had to say, these 11 Shakespeare plays to study and perform will give you a taste of the world’s bestselling playwright.
Titus Andronicus (1591-92)
If you know only one thing about Titus Andronicus, it’s probably that it’s Shakespeare’s goriest play. It was also the first tragedy he wrote. Directors often shy away from it, perhaps to avoid having to put on gratuitous displays of cruelty, but that doesn’t mean you can’t revel in reading about the failure of empathy. Titus Andronicus will make you consider the many faces of loyalty and the horrors of war. Family and vengeance are prominent themes, and contemporary readers may confront some disturbing notions and events. It will give you a chance to challenge the ideas of the most decorated playwright in British history. Naturally, all of it is wrapped up in gorgeous language and harrowing metaphors.
Richard II (1592)
One of Shakespeare’s most quoted history plays, Richard III, and its vicious titular king often come to mind before Richard II, but we’re bringing the latter to your attention here. Distant cousins, both Richards were Plantagenets, and both are problematic in their own ways – but Shakespeare’s characterisations couldn’t be more different. You’ll question the role of authority and the sneaky ways tyranny manifests. Most history plays are conveyed with action-packed prose, but reading Richard II – which is written entirely in verse – will show you how poetry can deliver pivotal plot devices and major shifts in tone too.
The Comedy of Errors (1594)
This comedy of mistaken identities and increasingly silly misunderstandings is the epitome of Elizabethan slapstick. A plot like this could crumble under the pressure of dramatic theory, but the Bard pulls it off perfectly. Just like many other famous Shakespeare plays, it’s not all fun and games. The piece is strongly comic, but it hides a list of deep reflections on family politics, community, and even nationalism. The language is loads of fun too: The characters use wordplay and double meanings to talk their way out of sticky situations, yet Shakespeare doesn’t hold back on the violence. You’ll be entertained just by reading it.
Romeo and Juliet (1595–96)
Two teenagers fall in love in a world of violence. Romeo and Juliet is not only a tragic love story about families disapproving of their children’s choice of lover, but it’s about how politics led the two innocent youngsters to their deaths. The Montagues and the Capulets are involved in a deadly feud that not even their beloved heirs can ease. Accordingly, the piece can be viewed under different lights: You can focus on their love story, or you can read it as a stark analysis of generational conflict.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595-96)
Fairies, romance, intrigue – there’s plenty to entice within this comedy. Featuring two love triangles, squabbling sprites, transformation charms, and plenty of gossipy tension, it really is a fun play. It’s one of the most famous Shakespeare comedies and probably the most suitable to be called an ensemble play. Everybody gets their moment to shine, whether it’s with a clever line or a heartfelt speech. It’s an exercise in tempo, pacing, and humanity for aspiring writers and performers.
Julius Caesar (1599)
Shakespeare wrote this historical tragedy to be his Globe Theatre debut and took a provocative route when it came to the Caesar/Brutus debate: The play asks who the true hero of the tale is, and you will be faced with a study of tyranny and loyalty. The piece contains many civic lessons, but it also includes a deep examination of the nuances of governmental fairness. It’s one of those plays that brings your personal opinions to the surface, so it will be an interesting experience whether through reading it or performing it.
As You Like It (1599)
Crossdressing, mischief, and pastoral idylls may be the backbone of As You Like It, but the play is rooted in emotion. The lovers exchange witty banter, and even the most intense rivalry plays out in sublime repartee. Whether you merely read the piece or you’re lucky enough to take on one of the many shimmering, shapeshifting roles, you will come out of it with a newfound appreciation for the whimsy of life. It’s one of Shakespeare’s most charming comedies.
Henry V (1599)
Henry V is Shakespeare’s most famous war play and part of the same tetralogy that includes Richard II. Yes, it glorifies bloodshed, but it contrasts the slaughter with many speeches about the human cost of conflict. It’s a window into valour and personal sacrifice. The political and historical aspects of the piece are thrilling in their delivery, but the insights into Henry are the lifeblood of the play. The character’s transformation from Prince Hal in Henry IV Part I and Part II to King Henry in this sequel is simply terrific, as he masks his insecurities to transform from wayward youth to ruler of the kingdom. Henry IV Part I and Part II are well worth reading, too, to give yourself a fuller understanding of the players involved.
Hamlet (1599–1601)
This tragedy is undoubtedly one of Shakespeare’s most frequently staged plays. Part revenge tragedy, part thriller, part family drama, part political commentary – Hamlet has it all. The play as a whole is praised for its eclecticism and emotional depth, and its characters become vessels for groundbreaking performances. The immense psychological depth of the protagonist is echoed in the supporting roles, turning each of them into a dazzling interpretative opportunity. Whether you’re cast as Hamlet himself or you have very few lines as Fortinbras, your part will have a specific function regardless of its size.
Macbeth (1606)
Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy is a nest of fast-paced action and bloody treason. It’s also the home of complicated, complex characters who circle the notion of villain without ever jumping into it fully. You will learn a lot about suspense and rhythm, as its characters keep their cards very close to their chest throughout. You’ll explore distinct themes and often contrasting feelings at once (ambition and guilt, control and fate), but also the concept of justifying a murder to further your own twisted interests.
The Tempest (1611)
This is a romantic, exciting, adventurous comedy. Shakespeare often refuses to define his characters as heroes or villains, opting to write a kaleidoscopic look at humanity and love. If The Tempest were published today, it would most likely be defined as a “romantasy,” with its magicians, spirits, and monsters coexisting alongside princesses and suitors. It touches upon themes of colonisation and slavery, opening up the floor to a thought-provoking excavation of the nature of tyranny. The play is lyrical and bountiful in its wordplay and exotic turns of phrase. It’s as intriguing to read as it is delightful to perform.
