This is a collection of plays and entertainments which were originally published and performed when England was nominally a republic or commonwealth. The texts illustrate how the dramatists devised new aesthetics in response to the ideological concerns of the Republic.

General introduction - theatre and cultural revolution; a note on editorial procedure; introduction - "The Tragedy of that Famous Roman Orator Marcus Tullius Cicero" Anon, "The Tragedy of that Famous Roman Orator Marcus Tullius Cicero", edited with Llewelyn Morgan; introduction - "Cupid and Death;" James Shirley, "Cupid and Death"; introduction - "The Siege of Rhodes"; William Davenant, "The Siege of Rhodes"; introduction - "The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru"; William Davenant, "The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru"; introduction - "The History of Sir Francis Drake"; William Davenant, "The History of Sir Francis Drake". Appendices: song from the first entry of "Cupid and Death"; additional passages from the second edition of "The Siege of Rhodes".