When we talk about Shakespeare plays, dramatic works written by William Shakespeare in the late 1500s and early 1600s that revolutionized English theatre. Also known as Elizabethan theatre, these plays are more than old literature—they’re the foundation of how we tell stories today. Whether it’s a star-crossed romance, a power-hungry king, or a witty servant outsmarting everyone, Shakespeare’s plots and characters show up everywhere—from TV dramas to TikTok skits.
His Shakespeare tragedies, plays like Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello that explore deep human flaws, guilt, and downfall aren’t just about death and despair. They’re about choices we all face: when to trust, when to act, when to stay silent. His Shakespeare comedies, plays like A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Much Ado About Nothing that use mistaken identities, wordplay, and romantic chaos to make us laugh still feel fresh because they’re built on real human behavior—not just jokes. And his Shakespeare characters, complex figures like Lady Macbeth, Falstaff, and Rosalind who break stereotypes and challenge norms are why people still debate them 400 years later.
These plays weren’t written for dusty libraries. They were for crowds cheering in open-air theatres, for kings watching from the front row, for ordinary people who wanted to see themselves on stage. That’s why they survive. You don’t need a degree to get them. You just need to watch a live performance, read one with fresh eyes, or hear how a line from Romeo and Juliet shows up in a pop song. The language might feel old, but the emotions? They’re still raw, real, and right here.
What you’ll find below isn’t a list of academic essays. It’s a collection of real experiences—where to see these plays in London, how to understand them without getting lost, and why some of the city’s best theatre moments still come from lines written in the 1590s. From hidden courtyard performances to modern retellings in East London pubs, these posts show you how Shakespeare isn’t locked in the past. He’s still alive—in the noise, the laughter, and the silence of a packed theatre.
The Royal Shakespeare Company in London blends traditional Shakespearean theatre with bold modern reinterpretations, making classic plays feel urgent and relevant for today's audiences.