• Yassine El Mansouri Photography

    The World's Largest Shakespeare Collection

    The Folger Shakespeare Library, established on Capitol Hill in 1932 as a gift to the American people, is home to the world’s largest collection of First Folios, the book that gave us Shakespeare. Learn more about the First Folio and see other treasures from the Shakespeare collection.

    About the First Folio Shakespeare Collection

  • Maurice Jones as Mark Antony in JULIUS CAESAR, 2014. Photo: Teresa Wood.

    Lend Me Your Ears

    The Folger’s Shakespeare Unlimited podcast features interviews with scholars, authors, directors, and actors about Shakespeare’s works, his world, and his enduring influence. Want more listening material? Full-cast audio recordings of seven Shakespeare plays are free to stream through July 1, including Julius Caesar.

    Podcast Recordings

  • Folger Theatre: Shakespeare Onstage

    Shakespeare’s plays come to life with Folger Theatre. Watch a recording of 2008’s Macbeth (streaming for free through July 1), and subscribe to the 2020/21 season on the road: Nathan the Wise at Theater J, The Tempest at Round House Theatre, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the National Building Museum.

    Watch Macbeth Subscribe: 2020/21 Season

  • Lloyd Wolf

    Studying and Teaching Shakespeare’s Plays

    Visit The Folger Shakespeare to read the full, searchable text of all of Shakespeare's plays, along with scene summaries, essays, and textual notes. To further support teachers, Folger Education is hosting weekly conversations about free resources and ideas for teaching during COVID-19.

    The Folger Shakespeare Teaching During COVID-19

  • KieranTimberlake/OLIN

    Building Renovation

    Our historic building is undergoing a major renovation to expand public space, improve accessibility, and enhance the experience for all who come here. The project is supported by the $50 million Wonder of Will campaign.

    About the Renovation The Wonder of Will

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From the Collection
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Shakespeare’s world belongs to you.

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FOLGER FINDS

Costume Designs for Shakespeare Characters

We’ve selected some costume designs from the Folger Shakespeare Library collection. Can you correctly guess which Shakespeare characters they depict?

Take the Quiz More Quizzes

SHAKESPEARE’S POEMS

How to Think Like a Sonnet

A sonnet packs a lot of meaning into a tiny space. Here are fourteen ways (one for each line) of approaching Shakespeare’s most well-known poems.

Read the Blog Post Read the Sonnets

OFF THE SHELF

Death By Shakespeare

Chemist and science communicator Kathryn Harkup explains the science behind the various ways Shakespeare’s characters die, from poisoning to beheading. Read an excerpt from her book in which she looks at plague outbreaks in Shakespeare’s time.

Listen: Author Interview Read the Excerpt

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Because the Folger presents the human experience in all of its complexity and aspiration, we must be part of undoing the legacy of hurt, racial injustice, and pain. Calling out completely unacceptable violence against African Americans, including the killing of George Floyd, is only part of what we must do. It is a start. But we must also address this legacy in our thinking and actions.
Michael Witmore
Folger Shakespeare Library Director
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  • Folger Theatre's 2020/21 Season

    Folger Theatre goes "On The Road" next season at venues across the DC region. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, please note the revised performance dates. Subscribe today to enjoy all the benefits that come with being a Folger Theatre subscriber.

    Subscriber Info

Upcoming Folger Events & Programs

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Folger Education

Teaching During COVID-19

Teachers are invited to join Folger Education's weekly teacher conversations and to use free resources for teaching Shakespeare and other complex texts during COVID-19.

Learn More