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Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Opened in 1878 on land donated by Charles Edward Flower,
the original Memorial Theatre was a Victorian gothic building with seating for 711 people.

The inaugural performance in the theatre was of Much Ado About Nothing,
with Barry Sullivan as Benedick and Helen Faucit as Beatrice.

The original theatre was destroyed by fire in 1926
The Swan Theatre occupies all that remains of the Victorian Memorial Theatre.

In 1932, the new Shakespeare Memorial Theatre designed by Elisabeth Scott was opened.

In 1960, Peter Hall formed the modern Royal Shakespeare Company
and in 1961, the Memorial Theatre was renamed the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

This world famous theatre stands beside the River Avon.

Shakespeare's plays are performed every season on one of the finest stages in England.
The red brick building contains a theatre, picture-gallery, museum and library.

Its greatest treasure is the original portrait of Shakespeare
from which Martin Droeshout made the engraving for the First Folio.

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre’s auditorium boasts a large proscenium arch stage
and raked style seating with stalls, circle and balcony areas.

The theatre is the ‘main-house’ for the Royal Shakespeare Company
in Stratford-upon-Avon.

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