Love’s Labour's Lost

Play

Writers: William Shakespeare

Overview

Show Information

Category
Play
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1598
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
16th century
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal for
College/University, Large Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre
Casting Notes
Mostly male cast
Includes young adult, adult, mature adult, late teen characters

Synopsis

King Ferdinand of Navarre has sworn an oath that for three years, he will transform his kingdom into an “academe” (a little academy). His subjects will reject the world’s pleasures, including women, in favor of an ascetic lifestyle and a complete commitment to their studies. Trouble comes in the form of The Princess of France and her three ladies-in-waiting (Rosaline, Maria and Katherine), with whom the King and his lords (Berowne, Longaville, and Dumaine) fall in love almost immediately. Love’s Labour's Lost details the antics that ensue when one attempts to deny one’s instincts, but is confronted with the overwhelming power of love.

Lead Characters


Love’s Labour's Lost guide sections