See modern adaptations and outdoor productions of Shakespeare plays in London

From Ian McKellen in Player Kings to an incredible open-air season at Shakespeare's Globe, there's a wide variety of shows on offer in London.

It’s another fantastic year for Shakespeare plays in London, and as the weather (finally!) improves, you can start getting those outdoor shows in the diary, as well as all of the brilliant productions in the West End and beyond.

If you’re after a fresh take on the Bard, you’re definitely in luck. Sir Ian McKellen is already wowing audiences, giving his Falstaff a dynamic new spin in Robert Icke's adaptation of Henry IV, Player Kings, and if you missed David Tennant’s Macbeth, you’ve got a second chance as it transfers into the West End soon. Plus Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers star in Jamie Lloyd’s much-anticipated Romeo and Juliet.

You can also see Shakespeare in the open air, either at Shakespeare’s Globe or Regent’s Park, as we head into the summer. Follow our guide to all the unmissable Shakespeare plays in London.

Book tickets to Shakespeare shows on London Theatre.

Player Kings

One of our greatest Shakespeareans, Ian McKellen, plays another knight of the realm – the boastful chancer Falstaff – in this electrifying drama. Robert Icke has cleverly condensed the history plays Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 into one production at the Noël Coward Theatre, and given it a modern framing that makes it feel incredibly relevant.

McKellen is worth the ticket price alone, but the rest of cast is excellent too, particularly Ted Lasso’s Toheeb Jimoh as the young Prince Hal, who would rather party with Falstaff than face up to the pressures of becoming king.

Book Player Kings tickets on London Theatre.

Twelfth Night

There’s no place in London quite as magical as Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, and it’s the perfect setting for this beguiling Shakespearean comedy. Following a shipwreck, Viola disguises herself as man, but things get complicated when she falls in love with her new lord – plus her identical twin makes a surprise appearance.

Owen Horsley’s new production promises a sun-drenched Mediterranean party, as the grief-stricken residents gradually rediscover their sense of joy and capacity for love. The cast features Anna Francolini, Evelyn Miller, Richard Cant, and Julie LeGrand.

Book Twelfth Night tickets on London Theatre.

Richard III

The Globe’s artistic director, Michelle Terry, stars as the much-debated monarch in this riveting history play. Richard will stop at nothing to gain and consolidate his power, but is he truly a monster? It will be fascinating to see how Terry plays it.

A big part of the pleasure of the Globe is the authentic Shakespearean playhouse experience – the closest you can get to seeing the plays as they were staged originally. But you may well find some parallels in Richard III with modern rulers too.

Book Richard III tickets on London Theatre.

Much Ado About Nothing

The war is over, and it’s time to celebrate – except that another conflict has begun: this time, the witty war of words between avowed singletons Beatrice and Benedick. Can their friends and family trick this stubborn pair of rivals into finding love?

Much Ado About Nothing is the original romcom, packed with brilliant jokes and hilarious set-pieces, and set in an idyllic Italian town. The Globe’s associate artistic director Sean Holmes is back to direct this Shakespeare favourite.

Book Much Ado About Nothing tickets on London Theatre.

The Taming of the Shrew

This courtship battle features two sisters, one eager to be a wife – and juggling several suitors – and one determined never to marry. But the latter, Katherina, meets her match with the eccentric newcomer Petruchio, who has a plan to tame his bride.

Jude Christian’s thought-provoking new production sets the story in an absurd carnival, tackling this play’s controversial gender politics head on, and asking us to consider how we balance entertainment with complicity.

Book The Taming of the Shrew tickets on London Theatre.

Antony and Cleopatra

Travel to Egypt this summer, where the Roman general Antony is completely infatuated with the imperious Queen Cleopatra. But will tensions between their nations extinguish their extraordinary passion?

Blanche McIntyre’s exciting new staging is a groundbreaking bilingual production. It will feature both spoken English and British Sign Language – a clever device for a play all about the meeting of two worlds.

Book Antony and Cleopatra tickets on London Theatre.

The Comedy of Errors

This raucous romp features not just one but two pairs of separated identical twins – and so twice the madcap comedy via mistaken identities, romantic complications and pure farce. The Globe’s especially glorious production is back in 2024 by popular demand.

Visit the Elizabeth docks in Sean Holmes and Naeem Hayat’s bustling, ship-shape staging, and follow the adventures of Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse, and Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus. It’s side-splitting summer fun.

Book The Comedy of Errors tickets on London Theatre.

Macbeth

Max Webster’s acclaimed Donmar Warehouse take on this nightmarish tragedy is heading to the Harold Pinter Theatre later this year, following a sell-out run. This innovative production uses a cutting-edge binaural soundscape to immerse you in Shakespeare's unsettling drama.

David Tennant and Cush Jumbo will reprise their lead roles as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, who, after hearing a prophecy from three witches, embark on a murder spree in order to gain power – but at a terrible cost. If you missed out on the Donmar run, make sure you catch this electrifying production in the West End.

Check back soon for more information on booking Macbeth tickets on London Theatre.

Photo credit: main image - Player Kings. (Photo by Manuel Harlan)