Love's Labour's Lost

The setup is classic Shakespeare mischief. Four young men make a solemn pact to devote themselves to study and swear off the company of women altogether. The arrival of four equally sharp minded women dismantles that plan with great efficiency, and the play spends the rest of its running time delighting in the fallout, as high minded vows collide with the gentle folly of people who think they know exactly what they want. The dialogue is some of the most inventive Shakespeare wrote, and in performance it becomes a quick, funny battle of wits between characters who are all cleverer than their own hearts. Seeing it at Shakespeare's Globe adds the ingredient no other venue can offer. The open air playhouse puts you close to the action beneath the sky, period costumes root the production in the world the text imagines, and the theatre's distinctive energy turns the comedy into a shared event rather than a distant spectacle. It makes a fine first Globe visit and an equally good return trip for anyone who saw a tragedy last time and fancies the lighter side. Performances are suitable for all ages. Tickets cannot be cancelled or rescheduled, so settle on your date before booking.