Find out more about Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost as well as information on current and past productions of the play.
Plot synopsis
The King of Navarre and three of his companions, Dumaine, Longaville and Berowne, make a pact to seclude themselves for three years in 'a little Academe', giving up worldly pleasures and, in particular, the society of women.
Berowne is already sceptical about the pact and its conditions but even before it can be put into effect it is jeopardised by the arrival of the Princess of France and her ladies-in-waiting on a political embassy.
The gentleman immediately fall in love, each attempting to hide the fact from the others, but all are found out. The Academe is in ruins.
Digitised picture archive
See pictures from productions of Love's Labour's Lost throughout the centuries. See more...
Read or listen to the play in advance
The RSC Shop has recordings of the plays and copies of the play texts available to buy online.
