Reading list · 71 plays

Shakespearean Plays Beyond Hamlet

Hamlet is, deservedly, the play most frequently picked up by readers new to Shakespeare. The list below is a guide to what to read next.

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  1. King Henry VI, Part 1

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · History Play

    Written by William Shakespeare (first published 1616), King Henry VI, Part 1 stands as one of the durable works of Renaissance & Elizabethan, regularly revived for its richly playable scenes and theatrically generous structure.

  2. King Henry VI, Part 2

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · History Play

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, King Henry VI, Part 2 by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards close reading and bold staging.

  3. King Henry VI, Part 3

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · History Play

    Written by William Shakespeare (first published 1616), King Henry VI, Part 3 stands as one of the durable works of Renaissance & Elizabethan, regularly revived for its richly playable scenes and theatrically generous structure.

  4. King Richard III

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    William Shakespeare's King Richard III (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  5. The Comedy of Errors

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Comedy

    The Comedy of Errors (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  6. Titus Andronicus

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    William Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  7. The Taming of the Shrew

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    The Taming of the Shrew (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  8. The Two Gentlemen of Verona

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Drama

    The Two Gentlemen of Verona (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  9. Love's Labour's Lost

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, Love's Labour's Lost by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards close reading and bold staging.

  10. King John

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · History Play

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, King John by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards close reading and bold staging.

  11. King Richard II

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    William Shakespeare's King Richard II (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  12. Romeo and Juliet

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    Written by William Shakespeare (first published 1616), Romeo and Juliet stands as one of the durable works of Renaissance & Elizabethan, regularly revived for its richly playable scenes and theatrically generous structure.

  13. A Midsummer Night's Dream

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Drama

    William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  14. The Merchant of Venice

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    Written by William Shakespeare (first published 1616), The Merchant of Venice stands as one of the durable works of Renaissance & Elizabethan, regularly revived for its richly playable scenes and theatrically generous structure.

  15. King Henry IV, Part 1

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · History Play

    King Henry IV, Part 1 (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  16. The Merry Wives of Windsor

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    William Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  17. King Henry IV, Part 2

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · History Play

    William Shakespeare's King Henry IV, Part 2 (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  18. Much Ado about Nothing

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    Much Ado about Nothing (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  19. King Henry V

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · History Play

    King Henry V (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  20. Julius Caesar

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    Written by William Shakespeare (first published 1616), Julius Caesar stands as one of the durable works of Renaissance & Elizabethan, regularly revived for its richly playable scenes and theatrically generous structure.

  21. As You Like It

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    As You Like It (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  22. Hamlet

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    William Shakespeare's Hamlet (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  23. Twelfth Night

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Drama

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards close reading and bold staging.

  24. Troilus and Cressida

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    Written by William Shakespeare (first published 1616), Troilus and Cressida stands as one of the durable works of Renaissance & Elizabethan, regularly revived for its richly playable scenes and theatrically generous structure.

  25. All's Well That Ends Well

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    William Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  26. Measure for Measure

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    Written by William Shakespeare (first published 1616), Measure for Measure stands as one of the durable works of Renaissance & Elizabethan, regularly revived for its richly playable scenes and theatrically generous structure.

  27. Othello

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    William Shakespeare's Othello (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  28. King Lear

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, King Lear by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards close reading and bold staging.

  29. The Tragedy of Macbeth

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  30. Antony and Cleopatra

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    Antony and Cleopatra (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  31. Coriolanus

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    William Shakespeare's Coriolanus (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  32. Timon of Athens

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards close reading and bold staging.

  33. Cymbeline

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    William Shakespeare's Cymbeline (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  34. The Winter's Tale

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards close reading and bold staging.

  35. The Tempest

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Drama

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, The Tempest by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards close reading and bold staging.

  36. King Henry VIII

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · History Play

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, King Henry VIII by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards close reading and bold staging.

  37. The Two Noble Kinsmen

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    The Two Noble Kinsmen (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  38. Macbeth

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, Macbeth by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards close reading and bold staging.

  39. Pericles, Prince of Tyre

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Drama

    William Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  40. Mucedorus

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Drama

    Mucedorus (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  41. Sir Thomas More

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Drama

    Written by William Shakespeare (first published 1616), Sir Thomas More stands as one of the durable works of Renaissance & Elizabethan, regularly revived for its richly playable scenes and theatrically generous structure.

  42. Locrine

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, Locrine by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards close reading and bold staging.

  43. Thomas Lord Cromwell

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Drama

    William Shakespeare's Thomas Lord Cromwell (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  44. King Edward III

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · History Play

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, King Edward III by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards close reading and bold staging.

  45. Sir John Oldcastle

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    Written by William Shakespeare (first published 1616), Sir John Oldcastle stands as one of the durable works of Renaissance & Elizabethan, regularly revived for its richly playable scenes and theatrically generous structure.

  46. Shakespeare's First Folio

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    William Shakespeare's Shakespeare's First Folio (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  47. The London Prodigal

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Drama

    The London Prodigal (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  48. The Puritan Widow

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Drama

    William Shakespeare's The Puritan Widow (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  49. A Yorkshire Tragedy

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, A Yorkshire Tragedy by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards close reading and bold staging.

  50. The Merry Devil of Edmonton

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Drama

    William Shakespeare's The Merry Devil of Edmonton (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  51. Fair Em

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Drama

    Fair Em (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  52. Hamlet The First ('Bad') Quarto

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    Hamlet The First ('Bad') Quarto (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  53. Hamlet A Study with the Text of the Folio of 1623

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    William Shakespeare's Hamlet A Study with the Text of the Folio of 1623 (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight…

  54. Shakespeare's play of the Merchant of Venice Arranged for Representation at the Princess's Theatre, with Historical and Explanatory Notes by Charles Kean, F.S.A.

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    Shakespeare's play of the Merchant of Venice Arranged for Representation at the Princess's Theatre, with Historical and Explanatory Notes by Charles Kean, F.S.A. (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance…

  55. A Fairy Tale in Two Acts Taken from Shakespeare (1763)

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · One-Act Play

    A Fairy Tale in Two Acts Taken from Shakespeare (1763) (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  56. King Henry V Arranged for Representation at the Princess's Theatre

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · History Play

    William Shakespeare's King Henry V Arranged for Representation at the Princess's Theatre (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to…

  57. The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 1 of 9] Introduction and Publisher's Advertising

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Drama

    The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 1 of 9] Introduction and Publisher's Advertising (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously…

  58. The Tempest The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.]

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    Written by William Shakespeare (first published 1616), The Tempest The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] stands as one of the durable works of Renaissance & Elizabethan, regularly revived for its richly playable scenes and theatrically…

  59. Two Gentlemen of Verona The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.]

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    Written by William Shakespeare (first published 1616), Two Gentlemen of Verona The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] stands as one of the durable works of Renaissance & Elizabethan, regularly revived for its richly playable scenes…

  60. The Merry Wives of Windsor The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.]

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, The Merry Wives of Windsor The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material…

  61. Measure for Measure The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.]

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, Measure for Measure The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards…

  62. The Comedy of Errors The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.]

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Comedy

    The Comedy of Errors The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  63. The New Hudson Shakespeare: Julius Cæsar

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    William Shakespeare's The New Hudson Shakespeare: Julius Cæsar (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight to play.

  64. Arden of Feversham

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Tragedy

    Written by William Shakespeare (first published 1616), Arden of Feversham stands as one of the durable works of Renaissance & Elizabethan, regularly revived for its richly playable scenes and theatrically generous structure.

  65. The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 2 of 9]

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    A defining work of Renaissance & Elizabethan, The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 2 of 9] by William Shakespeare (first published 1616) continues to attract directors, dramaturgs, and student companies looking for material that rewards close…

  66. The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 7 of 9]

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    William Shakespeare's The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 7 of 9] (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight…

  67. The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 6 of 9]

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    Written by William Shakespeare (first published 1616), The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 6 of 9] stands as one of the durable works of Renaissance & Elizabethan, regularly revived for its richly playable scenes and theatrically…

  68. The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 8 of 9]

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 8 of 9] (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

  69. The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9]

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    Written by William Shakespeare (first published 1616), The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9] stands as one of the durable works of Renaissance & Elizabethan, regularly revived for its richly playable scenes and theatrically…

  70. The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 4 of 9]

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    William Shakespeare's The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 4 of 9] (first published 1616) is a script directors return to whenever they want a vehicle that combines language of real beauty with characters actors actually fight…

  71. The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]

    by William Shakespeare · 1616 · Verse Drama

    The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9] (first published 1616) is a stage play by William Shakespeare, a touchstone of the Renaissance & Elizabethan repertoire that has been performed continuously for generations.

How this list was put together

The selections above were drawn from the full Stage Pages archive of 520 public-domain stage plays. Where ranking is implied by the order, that ranking is editorial — defensible, but not unanimous. Where the list is alphabetical or chronological, we say so.

If you have a candidate we missed, the whole library is one click away from the main scripts index; we add titles to lists as the catalogue grows.