The Royal Shakespeare Theatre on the banks of the Avon in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace, is the main house of the Royal Shakespeare Company. A first Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Victorian Gothic style opened in 1879 and was gutted by fire in 1926. The new building of 1932 was designed by Elisabeth Scott, the first important building in Britain designed by a woman architect, and has notable Art Deco features. It took its present name in 1961. The £112.8 million Transformation Project created, by 2010, a new auditorium of more than 1,040 seats with a thrust stage surrounded by the audience on three sides; the furthest seat is now 15 metres from the stage instead of 27. The complex also includes the smaller Swan Theatre, in the remains of the 1879 building, and a 36-metre tower.
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon lies directly at Shakespeare's birthplace — the Royal Shakespeare Company has performed Shakespeare plays here since 1879 with historical authenticity.
At a glance
- Type
- Theatre
- Location
- Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
More venues in United Kingdom
- Apollo Victoria Theatre · Musical theatre, London
- Edinburgh International Festival · Multi-genre theatre, Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Playhouse · Musical theatre, Edinburgh
- English National Opera · Opera house, London
- Glyndebourne · Opera house, Lewes
- Grange Park Opera · Opera house, Surrey
- His Majesty's Theatre · Musical theatre, London
- London Palladium · Musical theatre, London
- Lyceum Theatre London · Musical theatre, London
- National Theatre · Theatre, London