But now, it’s time to heal those wounds and rediscover your love for Britain’s biggest playwright.
This spring and summer, we’re spoilt for choice with the number of Shakespeare plays to see across the UK. Whether it’s in the historic Globe Theatre, his birthplace Stratford-upon-Avon or on tour, there’s plenty of ways to see one of his iconic plays.
There’s also a variety of adaptations to suit any kind of theatregoer. Some will be very classic versions for the more traditional viewer, like The Globe’s The Comedy of Errors, while others are really pushing the boat out this year, like Adjoa Andoh’s Richard III.
As a medium, Shakespeare has been reimagined so many times and in so many ways which means you’ll never really run out of original performances to see.
So, to help you answer the question of to buy or not to buy, we’ve put together this list of the best Shakespeare plays to see in 2023. We’ve also thrown in some Shakespeare-themed experiences and tours to please the bard-core fans out there.
If you’re a theatre fan, why not take a look at the best West End shows to see in 2023, or find the best candlelight concerts to see this month? Plus, with the coronation quickly approaching, here are the best King Charles III coronation memorabilia.
Best Shakespeare plays and experiences at a glance:
- Stratford-upon-Avon Audio Walking Tour, £6.99
- The Merchant of Venice 1936 at the Swan Theatre, from £10
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Globe, from £12
- The Comedy of Errors at the Globe, from £12
- Macbeth at the Globe, from £12
- As You Like It at the Globe, from £12
- Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall Entry Ticket and Tour, £12
- Julius Caesar tour, from £15
- Richard III at Rose Theatre Kingston, from £18
- Shakespeare Distillery Tour, £18.17
- Backyard Cinema tickets, from £25
- Hamnet at the Garrick Theatre, from £30
- Shakespeare in the City Walking Tour for Two, £30
- Guided Tour of Shakespeare’s Globe and Afternoon Tea for Two, £112
- Shakespearean Cooking Experience, £118
Best Shakespeare plays in London to see in 2023
A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Globe
“Lord, what fools these mortals be.”
At the Globe from 27th April to 12th August 2023 is Shakespeare’s magical comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. With its blending of the mortal world with the realm of fairies, this play is always an enchanting watch. Plus, it’s one of the original play within a plays and has a great cast of side characters.
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Buy A Midsummer Night’s Dream tickets from £12 at London Theatre Direct
The Comedy of Errors at the Globe
"I to the world am like a drop of water."
One of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, The Comedy of Errors is basically the story of the Parent Trap. Two twins are separated at birth by divorced parents and one day, when they end up in the same city, chaos ensues.
This year, The Comedy of Errors is coming to The Globe from 12th May to 29th July 2023 and tickets are on sale now at London Theatre Direct.
Buy The Comedy of Errors tickets from £12 at London Theatre Direct
Macbeth at the Globe
“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”
Macbeth tells the story of an overly ambitious man who seeks power and glory through any means necessary. With witches, murder and madness, Macbeth is one of the Bard’s darkest plays.
Macbeth is playing at Shakespeare’s Globe in London from 21st July to 28th October with prices starting from £12.
Buy Macbeth tickets from £12 at London Theatre Direct
Taking a loved one to see a Shakespeare play would be a brilliant birthday gift, and for more gift inspiration, take a look at the best experience birthday gifts and top London experience gifts.
As You Like It at the Globe
“All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players.”
As You Like It will be at the Globe from 18th August to 29th October 2023, with tickets currently on sale. Featuring some of the bard’s most famous lines, this comedy follows Rosalind and Orlando as they go on their troublesome love story.
Buy As You Like It tickets from £12 at London Theatre Direct
Richard III at the Rose Theatre
“A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!”
At the Rose Theatre in Kingston, Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh has directed her own version of Richard III, the story of a twisted King. This adaption is set to put a modern twist on the classic tale and will reflect Andoh’s own upbringing in 1960’s rural England.
Ahead of the debut Andoh said: “My Richard is set apart from his family and his peers and ascribed a hateful personality reflecting the prejudice of the society around him. This fresh staging asks the question: What happens when the person who is punched down upon, punches up?”
The show is running from 26th April to 13th May 2023, with tickets starting from £18.
Buy Richard III tickets from £18 at London Theatre Direct
Hamnet at the Garrick Theatre
After a sold-out run in Stratford-upon-Avon, the hotly anticipated play Hamnet will be transferring to London’s Garrick Theatre. Running from 30th September 2023 to 6th January 2024, Hamnet tickets are now on sale from £30.
The play is based Maggie O’Farrell’s best-selling novel which tells the story of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway following the death of their son, Hamnet. Relatable and devastating, this play of parental grief is sure to be a hit.
Buy Hamnet tickets from Love Theatre
If you like a twist on classic literature, check out how to get Bleak Expectations tickets, the comedy based on Charles Dickens now in the West End.
