Short Shakespeare at Austin Shakespeare at Zilker Hillside Theatre

Our “Free Shakespeare in Zilker Park” returns to offer a new Shakespeare experience of Short Shakespeare, a single weekend May 18-21, 2023 -- you don't want to miss out!

Made possible in collaboration with City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department, this family friendly night of frivolity and fun brings you four of the most popular Shakespearean plays ever.

Featuring four plays with five actors and two musicians, Short Shakespeare will be performed free at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  

The four Shakespeare plays include 20-minute versions of: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Twelfth Night, and Hamlet.

Five actors will portray all the characters in all four plays. The whirlwind of World’s Fastest Hamlet has been brought to area schools by Austin Shakespeare for many years. The other three Shakespeare plays were adapted by Emily Lyon and Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre, creators of expandthecanon.com: titled One-Twelfth Night, Tiny Tempest and Midsummer: Tedious & Brief.