Hi Victoria Charlotte, This sounds like a wonderful essay, I love Shakespeare! I would use the present tense. If you think about it, the play always starts that way, it is written down so explaining how it starts will be the same every time. If you use the past tense that makes it sound like you're linking it to an event. "I read the book last week and it started off with a really weird scene!" Or perhaps you're watching a live version of it at the theatre. "The play started with all the actors in a circle waving their hands and then suddenly from above us, Richard jumped down from the ceiling!" I hope this information helps, let me know if you have any questions. Best wishes, Katherine

Here is a resource that may help you. What you are talking about is known as the "literary present." Please take a look at this and let me know if you have any further questions about it. https://www.vanderbilt.edu/writing/wp-content/uploads/sites/164/2016/10/Literary-present-tense.pdf

I guess you should use present tense. As the play should be running at this moment.