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Hamlet, Macbeth and Julius Caesar are commonly seen on stage and screen, but what about Shakespeare’s lesser-spotted works? Here’s five gems that are well worth tracking down.
1. Coriolanus
Why it’s special: Autocracy? Democracy? Oligarchy? Right now, it seems like nothing is off the table as political leaders and societies question who makes what decisions and how. These same questions echo through Coriolanus, according to Bell Shakespeare Artistic Director Peter Evans:
“Shakespeare packed so much into this play. Coriolanus wrestles with how societies negotiate power, rights and representation. It shows the appeal and flaws of political alternatives – from authoritarianism and martial law to compromise and consensus. The characters are nuanced; what they say is often ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ at the same time. Add to that the fascinating dynamic between the warrior leader Coriolanus and his powerful, micro-managing mother, and you’ve got one of Shakespeare’s most underrated and engrossing plays.”
Killer quote: What is the city but the people? (Sicinius, Act 3 Scene 1)
Fun fact: In 1996, firebrand director Steven Berkoff directed Coriolanus for Bell Shakespeare (assisted by a young Peter Evans). There were no props in the production – everything was mimed, including the weapons.
Where to see it: Bell Shakespeare’s brand-new production of Coriolanus will be staged in Sydney (20 June – 19 July) and Melbourne (24 July – 10 August).
2. King John
Why it’s special: King John is a play for our times, according to stage and screen director Margaret Thanos:
“For me, this is a political satire about men ‘failing upwards’ to crash land into positions of power. And it lays bare how civilians suffer as a result of chaotic political leadership. I also love this play for Constance, who is such a sharp-minded character. She has so much depth and utters some of the best speeches written in all of Shakespeare.”
Killer quote: How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds / Makes deeds ill done! (King John, Act 4 Scene 2)
Fun fact: Between 1961 and 2012, the Royal Shakespeare Company staged King John six times, with four of those productions directed by women. Among them was radical theatre maker Buzz Goodbody, who directed King John with Patrick Stewart in the lead in 1970.
3. Richard II
Why it’s special: A cautionary tale of a leader who believes his own hype, this play follows King Richard’s steep descent from God’s anointed to abdication to prison to death. It’s morbidly fascinating to watch how one man’s excesses and vanity cause an entire nation to tear itself apart. This lyrical play also features an array of stonking lines, including John of Gaunt’s legendary “sceptred isle” death-bed speech.
Killer quote: I wasted time, and now doth time waste me (Richard, Act 5 Scene 5)
Fun fact: In 1601, Shakespeare’s company was hired to perform Richard II to help stir up rebellion among Londoners. The attempt to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I soon failed, and afterwards she clearly understood the play’s significance, reportedly saying, “I am Richard the Second, know ye not that?”.
Where to see it: Check out Ben Wishaw’s poignant TV portrayal of Richard, currently available free on 7+.
4. Titus Andronicus
Why it’s special: Centuries before Game of Thrones, there was Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus. “This play contains archetypes that still echo in so much of today’s pop culture and storytelling,” says Bell Shakespeare’s Head of Education, Joanna Erskine. “It’s packed with juicy revenge and levels of violence that would make Quentin Tarantino blush. I particularly adore the character of Aaron the Moor, a villain who unashamedly revels in his own acts of evil.”
Killer quote: If one good deed in all my life I did, / I do repent it from my very soul. (Aaron, Act 5 Scene 3)
Fun fact: Seventy years ago, a landmark Royal Shakespeare Company production of Titus Andronicus was directed by the great Peter Brook, starring Vivien Leigh as Lavinia and Laurence Olivier as Titus. Trailing red ribbons were used to convey Lavinia's blood, an effect that made many audience members faint.
Where to see it: It’s hard to go past the award-winning 1999 Hollywood movie, starring Anthony Hopkins in the title role.
5. Henry VI Part II
Why it’s special: Packed full of strong characters, courtly intrigue, murder and betrayal, Henry VI Part II is theatrical dynamite, according to Bell Shakespeare’s Resident Artist in Education, Emily Edwards.
“This is where Shakespeare’s War of the Roses really gets going. Amidst factional fighting at court, Margaret of Anjou steps out from the shadow of Henry, her weak husband, to assert her own power. She’s ambitious, complex and driven. This is a play that explores the vacuum created by the breakdown of a society’s institutions, which really packs a punch in today’s global political climate.”
Killer quote: Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep (Suffolk, Act 3 Scene 1)
Fun fact: In 2016, the editors of the New Oxford Shakespeare officially credited playwright Christopher Marlowe as co-author of all three Henry VI plays. The call was made by an attribution board after a team of 23 academics from five countries used traditional scholarship and computerised tools to analyse texts by Shakespeare and Marlowe. (It’s also believed that Thomas Nashe was part of the Henry VI writing team.) The findings have sparked discussions about the collaborative nature of Elizabethan playwriting.
Where to see it: Check out the TV version of Henry VI Part II starring Sophie Okonedo, Andrew Scott and Benedict Cumberbatch. It’s worth seeing for the cast alone and is currently available free on 7+.