How to Actually Enjoy Shakespeare (pt 2): How to Watch Shakespeare's Plays and Love Them

Shakespeare was meant to be enjoyed live.

CSC production of Richard III (2025) - Pictured from left: Cameron Varner*, James Anderson, Marikah Christine Leal

Attending a live Shakespearean play often evokes the sensation of being forced to eat one's vegetables. We know it's supposed to be good for us, but is also very likely to be an unpleasant experience. But it doesn't have to be this way.

We as audience members can give ourselves a leg up, and help to ensure we'll actually have a good time at the theatre. After all, we've paid for a ticket, and we're investing a couple hours into this. Let's make sure we get our money's worth.

How to Watch Shakespeare (and Actually Enjoy It)

If one is enthusiastic about the theatre, it's a little easier to find enjoyment in the live performance of classical material. But not everyone grew up with an appreciation for this sort of thing. Here are a handful of tips for even the layperson to utilize when going to the theatre.

Tip 1. Trust the actors.

There's no need to spend time "translating" the words of Shakespeare into modern vernacular. The actors (good ones, at least) will have done that work on their own. Our job as audience members is to trust that the actors will make the words connect for us, even if they seem foreign to our ear. They are here to help us actually enjoy Shakespeare.

Great Shakespearean actors communicate meaning through emotion, tone, and gesture. They bring you into the story by allowing you to experience the human element of the characters, not by handing you a lexicon and asking you to do homework. Let their skill and technique spin a story, and go along for the ride.

Tip 2. This isn't a foreign language.

Often, audiences are scared off by the thees and thous of Shakespeare. This can be an obstacle, and it's not even the most difficult one to surmount. There are plenty of phrases Shakespeare turned that leave even modern scholars scratching their heads for a bit. And that's okay.

You don't need to fully grasp every single phrase. There's no quiz at the end. We're free to experience the play in a more visceral way. Tune in to the emotional journey of the characters. Just like in a foreign film, you may not understand everything the first time you hear it, but when you see a character longing for love, or fighting for their life, that human reality is something that needs no translation. And the more Shakespeare you experience, the more easily your ear will adjust to the language.

Tip 3. Get the lay of the land.

One very useful piece of advice for first-time Shakespeare audience members is to familiarize yourself with the play beforehand. If you don't have time to read the whole play, just a short outline or summary can make a world of difference. You'd be surprised how simple these plots can be. But a simple plot, executed well, can be incredibly powerful and moving.

Understanding the basic story of a play before you arrive at the theatre can be a game-changer. You'll spend a lot less time trying to figure out who's who, and a lot more time enjoying the themes, characters, and performances.

Tip 4. Pick the right show.

Not all Shakespearean productions are equal. It's important to look for companies that make a concerted effort in clarifying and vivifying the Bard's work. Shakespeare wrote his plays for the masses, not just for the cultured elite. Some companies can forget that, while others focus on accessible Shakespeare.

Many professional companies make it a point to reach their audiences in creative ways without compromising the integrity of the play. If their production of Midsummer is set on Mars, that's going to be difficult to process. But if the company has a reputation for producing straightforward, accessible work, you'll be in good hands.

Tip 5. Try to relax.

Don't worry about "getting it right." You're not on the stage, and you don't need to feel apprehensive about spending a few hours in the theatre. Watching, and enjoying, Shakespeare doesn't require a literature degree. In fact, if we simply show up with a kind of curiosity about us, a willingness to be surprised, and with an open mind, we'll find ourselves swept off our feet by the beauty and wonder of Shakespeare.

So much of going to the theatre follows that old adage, "you get as much as you give." If you put in just a little effort, the returns will be overwhelming. You'll laugh more than you thought you might, you'll feel the emotional impact of these timeless plays, and they'll stick with you long after the curtain falls.

Final Thoughts: Shakespeare Is for Everyone.

These plays weren't written exclusively for scholars, actors, or professors. They were written for the masses. For us. Whether you're discovering his work for the first time, or returning after a long break, Shakespeare invites you to go on an adventure with his characters and experience something magical. All we have to do is show up.