At first consideration, it would seem that Shakespeare and Monty Python have very little in common other than that they're both English. Shakespeare wrote during the reign of a politically puissant Elizabeth, while Python flourished under an Elizabeth figurehead. Shakespeare wrote for rowdy theatre whereas Python toiled at a remove, for television. Shakespeare is The Bard, Monty is...hmm. This work considers both the differences and similarities between Shakespeare and Monty. It discusses Shakespeare's status as England's National Poet and Python's similar elevation. It explores various aspects of theatricality used by Shakespeare, Ben Jonson and Monty Python. It also covers the uses and abuses of history in Shakespeare and Python, humor, especially satire, in Shakespeare, Jonson, Dekker and Python, and the concept of the "Other" in Shakespearean and Pythonesque creations.