Now, we don’t have a perfect “Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits” vinyl signed by Liz I. But historians have pieced together a pretty solid setlist. We know she was a fan of that classic family drama, The Merry Wives of Windsor. Rumor has it she wanted to see the chubby knight Falstaff in love, so Shakespeare basically wrote a fan-service episode. It’s like when you ask your favourite band to play that one old B-side at the pub.
Another strong contender is A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Think about it: a play full of fairies, magic, and love triangles gone wrong. It’s the 16th-century equivalent of a blockbuster fantasy movie with perfect comedic timing. Elizabeth, who styled herself as a virgin queen and a bit of a mystical figure, must have loved seeing the fairy queen Titania on stage. It was like watching herself star in a Marvel film, but with better poetry.
The Backstage Pass
You’d think a queen would sit in a velvet throne with a glass of mead and a personal fan-blower. And yeah, she did, sort of. But Elizabeth was not a passive audience member. She was the ultimate stage mom. She had the power to shut down a theatre if she didn’t like the jokes, which is why Shakespeare tiptoed around political topics. Imagine performing stand-up comedy while your mom is in the front row with a security detail and a sour expression.
One legendary story says she once stood up during a performance of Richard II and yelled, “I am Richard, know ye not that?” She was that invested. She didn’t just watch; she participated. It’s the equivalent of your friend screaming “That’s me!” during a movie about a messy breakup. She saw the mirror held up to royalty, and she wasn’t afraid to shout at it.
Elizabeth I at the Globe watching The Merry Wives of Windsor
