What Was Shakespeare's First Performed Play?

Literature

Updated November 26, 2014

Question: What Was Shakespeare's First Play?

Answer:

Shakespeare first play was a history play called Henry VI Part II and was first performed in 1590-1591.

It is impossible to be sure of the exact order of the plays because no definitive record was made in Shakespeare’s time. We do know when most of the plays were originally printed, but this does not necessarily reveal the order in which the plays were produced.

Our list of Shakespeare plays brings together all 38 plays in the order in which they were first performed. You can also read our study guides for the Bard’s most popular plays.