What makes a Shakespeare production political? Can Shakespeare's plays ever be truly radical? Revealing the unspoken politics of Shakespeare's plays on stage, Andrew Hartley examines their nature, agenda, limits and potential. In considering key theoretical issues, analysing a wide range of productions, and engaging in a collaborative debate with Professor Ayanna Thompson, Hartley highlights a more consciously political approach to making theatre out of Shakespeare's scripts – and to experiencing it as an audience. Dynamic and provocative, this book is a crucial text for students and theatre practitioners alike.