5 Shakespeare Plays to Stream

Every summer, thespians and theater lovers gather outdoors to celebrate the Bard at Shakespeare Festivals across the globe. From New York City’s Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, these open-air performances are a summer tradition that mix culture with a bit of seasonal fun and sunshine. 

Before you pack your picnic and head out to see a live performance under the stars, why not get into the festival spirit from the comfort of home? Here are five fabulous Shakespeare productions you can stream from home on Marquee TV 

Twelfth Night 

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is one of his most beloved romantic comedies. It’s a joyful tangle of mistaken identity, unrequited love, and gender-swapping intrigue. When shipwrecked twins Viola and Sebastian believe each other lost at sea, Viola disguises herself as a man and goes to work for Duke Orsino, only to be swept into a love triangle with Countess Olivia. Full of wit, warmth, and a touch of melancholy,  Twelfth Night explores love in all its messy and transformative forms. 

Twelfth Night on Marquee TV 

In this stunning Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) production, directed by Christopher Luscombe, Twelfth Night gets a lavish Edwardian makeover. The all-star cast includes Adrian Edmondson ( Star Wars: The Last Jedi, War and Peace) as a gloriously pompous Malvolio, Dinita Gohil (The Sandman, Treason) as the quick-witted Viola, and EastEnders’ Kara Tointon as a radiant Olivia. With opulent sets and pitch-perfect comedic timing, this is a standout staging that delivers period elegance with a modern twist. It’s also the perfect warm-up to watching Twelfth Night at this year’s Shakespeare in the Park in NYC. 

Run Time: 2h 55m 

Fun Fact: The title refers to the twelfth night after Christmas, which in Shakespeare’s time was known to be a day of revelry, inversion, and disguise. 

 

A Midsummer Night’s Dream 

A favourite at summer festivals worldwide, A Midsummer Night’s Dream blends fantasy, romance, and mischievous magic to create one of Shakespeare’s most enduring comedies. When four young lovers escape into an enchanted forest, they find themselves entangled in a whirlwind of fairy spells, mistaken identities, and supernatural mischief. The result is a witty and riotous exploration of love’s irrational and unpredictable nature. 

A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Marquee TV 

This bold 2025 Royal Shakespeare Company Production, directed by Eleanor Rhode, reimagines the play with a vibrant 1970s twist while preserving its timeless magic. Ghosts star Matthew Baynton steals the show as Bottom, blending physical comedy with heartfelt charm. Complete with dreamy visuals, a truly charismatic cast, and psychedelic flair, this is a Dream worth streaming. 

Run Time: 2h 50m 

Scene Breakdown: Check out Shakespeare with Sarah’s acting breakdown of The Porter. 

Macbeth 

In the mood for something darker? Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a thrilling psychological tragedy of ambition, prophecy, and the spiraling consequences of unchecked power. When a war hero receives a supernatural prediction that he will become king, he and his wife launch into a bloody quest for the throne, with devastating results. 

Macbeth on Marquee TV 

This electrifying production from London’s Donmar Warehouse stars David Tennant (Doctor Who, Rivals, Broadchurch) and Cush Jumbo ( Criminal Record, The Good Fight) in two of Shakespeare’s most complex and chilling roles. Directed by Max Webster, this stripped-back staging uses immersive sound design and eerie lighting to blur the lines between reality and nightmare. It’s intimate, terrifying, and unforgettable. This is Macbeth for the modern era. 

Run time: 2h 30m

Scene Breakdown: Watch Shakespeare with Sarah’s acting breakdown of Act 3, Scene 2. 

 

The Merry Wives of Windsor 

A laugh-out-loud comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor is a fast-paced, witty play that brings Shakespeare’s recurring character, Sir John Falstaff, back for more mischief, only this time, he’s met his match. Hoping to swindle his way into wealth by seducing two respectable women at once, Falstaff finds himself caught in a hilariously tangled web of trickery, disguise, and retribution. 

The Merry Wives of Windsor on Marquee TV 

This bold, bright RSC production, directed by Fiona Laird, sets Shakespeare’s comedy in a colorful, Essex-inspired world of suburban satire, complete with Karaoke, neon tracksuits, and garden gnomes. Beth Cordingly (Emmerdale) and Rebecca Lacey ( Chalet Girl) shine as the clever wives who turn the tables on Falstaff’s lecherous scheming, while David Troughton plays the bumbling knight with a swagger and comic flair. The Elizabethan meets modern-day costumes and set bring Shakespeare’s tale of timeless wit, physical comedy, and slapstick gags brilliantly to life. 

Run Time: 2h 40m

Fun Fact: The character Sir John Falstaff appears in three of William Shakespeare’s plays: Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Love’s Labour’s Lost 

Playful, poetic, and packed with wordplay, Love’s Labour’s Lost is one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known gems. The King of Navarre and his friends vow to swear off women for three years to focus on their scholarly pursuits. But when the Princess of France and her witty entourage arrive, the men’s lofty ideals quickly disappear into flirtation, folly, and some of Shakespereare’s most impressive wordplay. 

Love’s Labour’s Lost on Marque TV

Filmed live at London’s iconic Globe Theatre, this charming production directed by Dominic Dromgoole balances Shakespeare’s lyrical language with bold visual humor and physical comedy. Despite its traditional Elizabethan setting, this play is anything but outdated. The outstanding cast, led by Trystan Gravelle (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) as Berowne, Jack Farthing (Poldark, The Lost Daughter) as Dumaine, and Paul Ready (Motherland, The Dig) as Don Armado, give a truly outstanding performance. A lesser-known gem in the Shakespeare canon, Love’s Labour’s Lost reveals the tension between reason and desire with flirtation and banter that rivals Love Island. 

Run Time: 2h 30m 

Steal this line: “From women’s eyes this doctrine I derive:
They are the ground, the books, the academies
From whence doth spring the true Promethean fire.” (Berowne, Act 4 Scene 3)

In other words, women are the ultimate source of inspiration and knowledge. 

 

Feeling inspired by all this sizzling summer Shakespeare?

 Check out Marquee TV’s full Summer Festival Collection and stream world-class productions from the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare’s Globe, and the Donmar Warehouse, all from the comfort of home. 

Create your own Shakespeare Festival Vibe at Home: 

Can’t make it out to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, or Shakespeare in the Park? No problem. Bring the Bard to your backyard with these tips: 

• Watch on the big screen: Set up Marquee TV on your TV or projector to catch all the action in detail. [Here’s How] 
• Drink like Shakespeare: Mix up a historical recreation of a “Heart Ease” Cordial inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 
• Gather your troupe: Invite your friends over for an evening of Shakespearean revelry. Costumes optional. 
• Warm up your audience: Start your evening off with a bit of fun by testing your knowledge with a Shakespeare Quiz, like one of these from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Bonus points for quoting sonnets!