Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST) is the largest of the three theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The others are the intimate Swan, a replica Elizabethan-style stage with just 426 seats and The Other Place which replaced The Courtyard in 2011. The Other Place is the smallest of the three stages with just 200 seats.
Theatre History
The RST opened in 1932 and was designed by the architect Elisabeth Whitworth Scott (1898-1972). The theatre was therefore the first important public building in Britain to be designed by a female architect.
Scott's building had three tiers (balcony, circle and stalls) and seating for 1,400 audience members. She also incorporated several art deco features in her design. The theatre sits on the banks of the River Avon close to Bancroft Gardens with several Shakespeare-themed statues and the Swan Theatre.
Renovation
With funding from a variety of sources including public donations, the theatre was transformed in the early 21st century to bring the audience closer to the stage.
This created a "one-room" theatre - closer in concept to original Elizabethan-era theatres. The renovated theatre provisionally opened in 2010 after three years of work. The official opening a year later was undertaken by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
Facilities & Information
The "new" theatre now with 1,018 seats includes a Rooftop Restaurant and Bar overlooking the River Avon, as well as the Riverside Cafe and Terrace and a theatre shop. A colonnade now also links the RST and The Swan. In addition, the theatre is now barrier free.
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Waterside
Stratford-upon-Avon
Warwickshire
CV37 6BB
Box Office Tel: 01789 331 111
www: rsc.org.uk
Stratford-upon-Avon Attractions
Other places of interest in and around Stratford include the Birthplace Museum, Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Shakespeare's grave in Holy Trinity Church.
In nearby Warwick is the popular Warwick Castle and a pair of historic buildings: Thomas Oken's House and the Lord Leycester Hospital, a Grade I listed Medieval building.
Stratford-upon-Avon Hotels
Stratford-upon-Avon offers plenty of choice as far as accommodation is concerned.
Some recommended places to stay are Hotel Indigo, Mercure Stratford upon Avon Shakespeare Hotel and the White Swan Hotel.
See a listing of all available hotels in Stratford-upon Avon.
Stratford-upon-Avon Access - Getting To Stratford-upon-Avon
By Rail: Stratford-upon-Avon has trains to Birmingham Snow Hill including the Shakespeare Express steam train operated by Vintage Trains on Sundays in the summer. There are also trains to London Marylebone Station via Leamington Spa.
By Car: Driving from London to Stratford-upon-Avon takes about 2 hours on the M40 motorway.
By Coach: National Express offers coach service to and from Stratford-upon-Avon at the Riverside Bus Station. Local buses come and go from Bridge Street. There are local buses to Banbury, Birmingham, Chipping Norton, Coventry, Moreton in Marsh in the Cotswolds, and Redditch.
There are also Open Air Bus Tours of the town. For full details inquire at the Tourist Information Centre.
Stratford-upon-Avon Map
Hotels in the UK
Book Hotels in England - Booking.com
Find Accommodation in London - Booking.com
Search Hotels in Scotland - Booking.com
Hotels in Northern Ireland - Booking.com