Shakespeare’s classic plays are a popular choice for many high school theaters. They are fun to produce, students find them interesting to perform, and the audience simply loves them. But preparing your stage for them can sometimes be challenging.
To make things a little bit easier, we prepared a list of the most popular Shakespeare’s plays for high school and combined them with our rentable theatrical backdrops that can help you bring the story to life. So, if you are getting ready to stage a Shakespeare play, then this article can help you choose theatrical backdrops that will create a more immersive experience for your audience.
But before we dive into particular shows and backdrops that perfectly fit their theme, let us reflect on a few general tips you should keep in mind when creating the right scenery.
Start With the Main Settings
Before you choose the scenery, think about the overall location of the play. Are most scenes happening in a castle, a forest, a town, inside a house, or somewhere else? Knowing this will help you narrow down your choice and pick backdrops that fit the theme of the play.
Most Shakespeare plays only need a few main locations. For a high school production, it is usually best to choose one or two main backdrops that cover most of the play. Then add one or two simple, neutral backdrops for extra scenes. This saves time, money, and work during scene changes.
Also consider day vs. night scenes. If your backdrop can play both roles, you get more flexibility from it.
Match the Mood
While Shakespeare’s plays are set in different historical time frames, you do not have to worry about making everything perfectly historical. What matters the most is the feeling of the scene. The backdrop should help the audience feel and understand the mood of the scene right away.
For example, in Macbeth, the castle should not look cozy, so a backdrop with stark stone walls and shadowy corners sets a darker mood than a richly colored, inviting hall.
Keep It Simple
A theatrical backdrop should work with the actors and accentuate their performance, not distract from them.
If a scene is rich in movement or includes many actors on stage, a simpler backdrop can be a good choice. If the backdrop is too complex, it can sometimes pull attention away from the performance.
Check the Size and Hanging System
Before you choose and order theatrical backdrops, make sure you know the size of your theater. Check the width and the height, and search for backdrops in that particular size.
If your stage dimensions are smaller than what we offer, do not worry. The backdrop size can be adjusted from the top, the side, or the bottom, so it fits your needs.
Make sure you are also familiar with the backdrop hanging process and have all the necessary equipment to do it.
If you need more information about the ways you can adjust the backdrop size and methods you can use to hang it, please refer to our backdrop care and maintenance guide.
Shakespeare Plays and Backdrop Ideas
Some Shakespeare plays are more popular in high schools than others because they are easier to stage and work well for student actors. Teachers often come back to these titles because they are familiar, flexible, and school-friendly.
Most of these plays can work with about four to six backdrops, and sometimes even fewer if you reuse them with different lighting.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream mostly happens in two contrasting places, the city of Athens and the magical forest.
The city represents the serious side of life, so the scenes in it should feel neat and formal. The forest, on the other hand, represents playfulness and peculiarity, so the scenery should feel mysterious, playful, and a little strange. Theatrical backdrops you choose for the show should reflect these two contrasts.
With this in mind, here are a few theatrical backdrops from our collection that perfectly fit the themes of the story.
Lush Green Forest
The Lush Green Forest backdrop depicts dense forest with thick tree trunks and a canopy of lush leaves that stretches into the distance. A blanket of green grass covers the forest floor. In the background, you see a blue haze, which allows you to use this backdrop for a daytime or nighttime forest scene.
This backdrop can be a good choice for scenes in acts I and IV, when characters first slip into the trees or reappear as if the woods have gently reshaped them.
Blue Night Forest
The Blue Night Forest backdrop features otherworldly forest beneath a deep-blue night sky. The drop has dark blue trees and shrubs, framing the scene with a glimpse into a magical night sky. At the heart of it all, silhouetted trees dance under the blue glow of a radiant white moon.
Use this theatrical backdrop for the enchanted night moments. For example, when Titania is suspended in spell-sleep, or Puck is steering the lovers through a laughing, shadow-swirled chase.
This drop can pair with matching forest leg panels and border or be used on its own.
Colorful Garden Arches
The Colorful Garden Arches backdrop depicts beautiful stone arches, with a lush, green landscape behind them. Gaze into the distance, past the arches, and lose yourself in a vibrant display of colors, from the bright blue sky above to the emerald hues of the grass below. Tall trees stand guard, their branches reaching the sky with surrounding shrubs of every shape and size.
This backdrop can be used in opening and closing acts for the Duke’s court scenes. It creates a clean visual divide between the polished city and the forest’s more intimate topography.
Later, with dimmer light, you can repurpose it as Titania’s fairy bower.
Mystical Forest
The Mystical Forest backdrop features a dark, mysterious wood filled with dark trees and a mossy, green grass forest floor. Yellow orbs that resemble fireflies can be seen floating through the air. These fireflies are painted with UV-sensitive paint that glows under blacklight and brings them to life along with the forest floor.
This theatrical backdrop can be a great fit for the fairies’ lullaby to Titania or for Puck’s last speech. It really makes the audience feel like they have just been in a fairy kingdom.
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is probably one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. The story revolves around a tragic young love, and it mostly takes place in three main locations, which include the streets of Verona, the Capulet home, and the tomb at the end.
The street scenes should reflect a public and loud general society full of conflict. The home scenes should feel more private, especially the memorable balcony scene, and the tomb should feel dark and serious, reflecting the tragic ending.
For a high school production, just a few main backdrops will be enough to convey the story. A city street backdrop can cover many scenes. A building exterior with balcony space can help with the most famous moments in the play. A tomb or crypt backdrop works for the ending.
Charming European Street
For a picturesque street scene, use our Charming European Street backdrop, which is lined with cozy earth-toned Tudor-style buildings. In the middle, there’s a grey stone church with big arched windows.
On one side, a little fountain gurgles away, and green shrubs add to the peaceful feel, with distant mountains providing a nice backdrop to the town. The sky is a pleasant blue with streaky white clouds.
Spring Village
If you are looking for a peaceful town square with a centerpiece fountain, then our Spring Village backdrop is the right choice.
This theatrical backdrop displays a beautiful main square and fountain surrounded by Tudor-style houses. In the background, you can see a mighty castle standing guard. Right behind the green-roofed castle, there is the village chapel. The background is framed by the towering mountains on the left and a blue sky with white fluffy clouds on the right.
This drop can serve a dual purpose. It is great for the Capulets’ party exterior or generally any street scenes requiring a hint of Verona’s skyline. The banners and bright colors make it perfect for joyful scenes.
Red Parlor Scrim Interior
To depict a grand interior hall with a rich red damask design, use our Red Parlor Scrim Interior backdrop. This regal backdrop features a red damask parlor with two staircases and a balcony, shielded by golden railings. There is a Pink Austrian Puff in the ornate doorway. Two white doors sit on the upper levels of the parlor.
This is an excellent choice for the Capulet Ballroom, where Romeo and Juliet first meet.
Full Moon Graveyard
The Full Moon Graveyard backdrop depicts a dark twilight sky dominated by a large full moon. Down below, there is a silhouette of a graveyard with solemn tombstones, dead trees with outstretched branches, and an iron fence with an inviting open gate.
This backdrop immediately signals “night” and “cemetery.” As Juliet lies apparently dead and Romeo arrives, the full moon backdrop adds to the tragedy’s eerie mood.
Macbeth
The story of Macbeth mostly takes place in dark outdoor spaces and inside a castle. The main settings include a lonely heath where the witches appear, a castle where much of the action takes place, and a battlefield near the end.
For a high school production, a simple dark castle backdrop can cover many scenes. A stormy outdoor backdrop can work for the witches and other outside moments. A battlefield or forest backdrop can help with the ending.
Keep in mind that this play should feel dark, tense, and unsettling from start to finish. Simple, moody backdrops usually work the best.
Dark Castle Interior
The Dark Castle Interior backdrop represents the inside of a stone castle. You can see the stone walls with multiple pillars connected by ceiling arches. The ceiling itself is dark red, which enhances the mysterious royal scenery. There is a yellow and red-stained-glass medieval window, elegantly decorated with designs typical of that time, in the background.
The color scheme of this theatrical backdrop includes gray, black, and a soft orange that looks like torchlight. This backdrop feels cold and medieval, as if plotting and murder could hide in every corner.
Gated Graveyard
The Gated Graveyard backdrop depicts the see-through iron fence in its foreground, opening to a cemetery filled with tombstones. The tombstones are enveloped in a wispy, low fog and illuminated by the light of the full moon. An ominous forest of dense trees sits in the background. The entrance is flanked by a pair of dark, bare willow trees.
This backdrop can be used in scenes where you need to accentuate the eerie setting of the play.
Night Graveyard
Another similar backdrop with a dark setting is our Night Graveyard. In the foreground of this spooky scene, there are several tombstones. A beautiful full moon illuminates a dark blue night sky. An ominous forest of dense trees sits in the background. To the right of the graveyard, there is a pair of trees and a building with a window.
Just like the previous piece, you can use this theatrical backdrop in scenes that need to have a dark and eerie setting.
Medieval Castle Exterior
The Medieval Castle Exterior backdrop features a stone castle wall with a battlement silhouette against a brooding sky. The rust-colored structure has grated windows surrounding the outside of the castle. Right in the middle of the wall is a wide gate, barring outsiders from entering. Like the windows, the gate does not show anything from within the castle walls.
This drop would be perfect for the siege of Dunsinane in the final act. When Malcolm’s forces attack, you could switch from an interior to an exterior castle backdrop, showing Macbeth’s fortress as the troops close in.
Hamlet
The legendary story of Hamlet mostly takes place in and around a castle in Denmark. Most scenes happen inside the castle, but there are also important outdoor scenes, especially with the ghost and the graveyard.
For a high school production, a dark castle interior can cover most of the play. Then you can add one or more backdrops that depict the outdoors for the ghost and the graveyard scene later on.
The mood should feel serious, tense, and a little eerie.
Knight’s Castle
One of the backdrops that is almost a perfect fit for Hamlet is our Knight’s Castle. The walls depicted on the drop are made of hard, cold stone, with one wooden door at the center and two windows on each side. Both windows and the door have elegant stone arches surrounding them and golden stained glass detailing. On the sides of the door are stone pillars, and the top of the door is decorated with an intricate stone etching.
This backdrop can be used for both indoor and outdoor scenes.
Royal Castle Interior
Another backdrop that can blend into the Hamlet theme and recreate the Danish royal court’s household is our Royal Castle Interior. It portrays the interior of a medieval castle, with austere, gray-colored stone walls. A large window in the center contains a clear blue sky decorated with diamond-patterned grilles. There are two large tapestries on each side of the drop, both landscapes of trees and very large mountains.
You can use it for basically any indoor scene in the play.
Witch’s Castle
Witch’s Castle is one more backdrop that is a great choice for Hamlet. It depicts torches casting an eerie glow on stone walls, a cobblestone floor that screams medieval authenticity, open windows offering majestic mountain views, and a stone staircase that invites endless mystery and adventure.
In the background, a stone staircase leads to the arched doorway, preceded by a terrace framed with wood railings. In the middle of the panel, another lit-up aisle further adds to the eerie feeling attached to the backdrop.
Dungeon
The Dungeon theatrical backdrop is also a good choice for Hamlet. It draws you into the mystery as a winding staircase leads through an arched door, bathed in the glow of candlelight, and tantalizes with the promise of hidden secrets. Below, candle holders, tables, and metallic boxes add to the atmospheric ambiance, heightening the suspense. From swashbuckling adventures to nerve-tingling mysteries, this underground prison scenic backdrop caters to every narrative whim.
Twelfth Night
The Twelfth Night story takes place in Illyria, a coastal setting with a warm, relaxed feel. The main locations are the seashore, Duke Orsino’s world, and Olivia’s house or garden. There are also a few scenes that can feel like a town street or outdoor meeting place.
For a high school production, you can keep it simple with a beach or seashore backdrop, plus a garden or house backdrop that works for most of the play. These choices fit the story and help show both the romance and the comedy.
The mood should feel light, playful, and a little dreamy. Since this is a comedy, bright and welcoming scenery usually works best.
Seaside Greek Villa
This Seaside Greek Villa backdrop depicts a balcony of a Villa looking out onto the crystal blue water. Across from the water, you see the homes painted in blue and white along the hillside. On the balcony is a wall with oval-shaped openings covered in green vines. In the center of the wall is a staircase that leads down onto the white sands of the beach.
This kind of backdrop works well for Olivia’s house. Many important scenes can happen there, especially the funny and romantic ones. It can also be used for Orsino’s home if you want to keep the scenery simple. Different lighting can help the same backdrop feel a little different from scene to scene.
Tropical Beach Cove
The Tropical Beach Cove backdrop depicts a white sand beach, the coconut trees, and 2 mountains, with fluffy white clouds against a blue sky visible in the background.
For a high school production of Twelfth Night, this works best for the opening shipwreck scene when Viola arrives on shore. It helps the audience understand the setting right away.
Other backdrops we already mentioned, like Colorful Garden Arches and Charming European Street, would also be great for this play.
The Tempest
The Tempest story takes place on a remote island after a shipwreck. Most scenes happen outdoors, around rocky shores, open spaces, and areas that can feel magical or strange.
The most important backdrop for the story is the island itself. It should feel wild, beautiful, and a little mysterious. A stormy sea backdrop can also help with the opening shipwreck scene.
This play gives schools a lot of room to be creative. The scenery can be simple or imaginative, but it should help show that this island is different from the normal world.
Stormy Sea
The Stormy Sea backdrop depicts turbulent and dark ocean waters. The waves look menacing, as if the wind is whipping them into a frenzy. The sky above is no calmer, with ominous gray clouds that signal an incoming downpour with just a hint of the sun coming through.
This theatrical backdrop is a great choice for the opening shipwreck scene. It helps the audience understand the danger right away.
Enchanted Forest
The Enchanted Forest backdrop can show a magical part of the island, with unusual colors and strange plants. It features a lovely woodland situated on a vibrant pink ground with patches of green grass. Magenta mushrooms and blue, yellow, white, and orange flowers are nestled among the greens. The foreground features trees with blue bark and bright lime-green leaves scattered around the scene.
This backdrop can work well for Prospero’s magic scenes or for the masque, where the play becomes more dreamlike and theatrical.
Backdrops we already mentioned, like the Lush Green Forest and Mystical Forest, would also be great for this play.
Renting Our Backdrops
Once you know which backdrops you want, the next step is making sure they are available for your show dates. Make sure to check early, especially during school theater seasons.
If you are not sure how to order backdrops from our website, you can read more about it in our guide or contact us directly. We can also help you choose the right backdrop size for your stage.
