The political season is in full bloom. As the South Carolina Republican primary fades away and the Democratic primary gears up, it’s no wonder that politics is on the brain.

That goes for the former Clemson University Shakespeare Festival, now called Shakespeare at Clemson, that celebrates its annual return to campus starting Tuesday.

This year, the entire four-day celebration revolves around politics and how Shakespeare revealed the politics of Elizabethan England in his plays. Themed “Politics and the Citizen,” it’s the 17th annual festival sponsored by Clemson.

“We are trying to highlight the connections between the performances and the scholarly,” said Elizabeth Rivlin, coordinator of the event. “It allows for some very tight and very interesting connections to come in three areas.”

The first, of course, is live performance. This year, the Aquila Theatre returns to perform “Julius Caesar” at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Jan. 31. Shakespeare’s most political play follows one of the world’s most notorious leaders. The entire plot revolves around the politics of the ruling powers, backhanded schemes and (pun intended) backstabbing.

This is the only ticketed event on the schedule, at $20 for adults and $10 for students. For more information, call the box office at 864.656.7787 or go online to www.clemson.edu/brooks.

Film adaptations of Shakespeare’s most beloved works — and some of his lesser known — are the second way that Shakespeare at Clemson brings the bard’s work to the masses.

This year, Ms. Rivlin said they will show a 1953 version of “Julius Caesar,” starring Marlon Brando, at 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Hendrix Center, and a 2006 version of “As You Like It,” directed by Kenneth Branagh, at 8 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Self Auditorium at the Strom Thurmond Institute. Both screenings are free and the second is a special treat, according to Ms. Rivlin.

“They never showed this version of ‘As You Like It’ on the big screen, so it’s very exciting to see it there,” she explained.

Finally, of course, are the lectures and discussions. From 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 1, speakers from Boston University, Colgate University and Furman University will provide insight on Shakespeare and his politics. That event is also free and will be held at Daniel Hall. A reception with refreshments will follow.

“I am amazed at how many loyal followers there are for this event,” Ms. Rivlin said. “It reminds us that Clemson is a rich university with much educational diversity and experience.”

For more information on the festival, go online to www.clemson.edu/caah/shakespeare/html.