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Performance History
Scholars believe the Admiral’s Men first performed The Shoemaker’s Holiday in 1599 at the Rose Theatre and then later before the royal court. During Dekker's lifetime, the only surviving performance record of The Shoemaker's Holiday is in 1600 on New Year's Day as part of Queen Elizabeth I's annual Christmas celebrations and entertainment.

There are six surviving editions of the play's publication during Dekker's lifetime. The first edition was published in 1600 by the printer Valentine Simmes. The first edition prefaces the play with an "Epistle to the Professors of the Gentle Craft," and the Prologue was spoken before Queen Elizabeth. Philip Henslowe's Diary records a payment of £3 to "Thomas Dickers" for the play.

In April 1898, a Harvard University fraternity performed an abridged version with attention to accurate costuming, music, and dance.

In November 1912, at Brinkerhoff Theatre, the Philolexian Society of Columbia University presented a humorous, parodic interpretation with all males performing men and women roles.

In January 1938, Director Orson Welles' of Mercury Theatre in NYC, NY brought significant attention to The Shoemaker's Holiday with his abridged version and directing. Some critics gave the production highly favorable reviews while others criticized the extreme humor. Welles' production of The Shoemaker's Holiday was offered "in repertory" with his previous show, Julius Caesar.

In 1967, Director Douglass Campbell of Guthrie Theater Company in Minneapolis, MN presented an adaptation with an instrumental score composed by Dominick Argento. Campbell inserted an extra scene of Ralph singing "How Does My Jane?"

In 1970, the play was translated by Dan Almagor and directed by David William to celebrate the rebuilding of the Habima Theatre.

The Shoemaker's Holiday has been a part of many Shakespearean festivals celebrating Elizabethan theatre.

In February 2005, Peter Dobbins as artistic director of Storm Theatre presented a performance in contrast to Welles' comedic abridgment. The Wall Street Journal favorably reviewed the production for both its comedic and somber moments.

In 2015, the Royal Shakespeare Company produced The Shoemaker's Holiday at the Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon to highly acclaimed reviews. Critics praised director Phillip Breen for reinterpreting scenes and evoking contemporary issues of war trauma and oppression.

In 2016, the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory produced the play with contemporary music such as "Blue Suede Shoes" by Elvis Presley. Reviewers described the show as a light-hearted, comedic interpretation with exceptional costuming.

Other Media Forms
A BBC World Theatre Radio play adaptation was aired in the early sixties.

In 1967, there was a short-lived musical version.

In December 1974, New York University's Queens College of Music presented a drama and dance ballad opera adaptation by lyricist John Olon and with music by Argento.

In April 2015, Willing Suspension Productions, Boston University's Renaissance theater group, performed and filmed a freely viewable performance.