The Royal Shakespeare and Swan theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon are to re-open in November after a four-year and £112.8 million redevelopment.
The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced this week that all the work will be completed on time and in budget by November 24.
Aiming to bring the audience closer to the action, the RST now has a new thrust stage and seating for 1,000 people. The redevelopment has also seen the building of a 36 metre high tower, the installation of new exhibition spaces, a rooftop restaurant and riverside cafe and terrace.
The new theatres will have a ‘soft’ opening with a series of preview events and activities while the new production of Matilda is performed at The Courtyard Theatre over the Christmas period.
In February 2011, the RSC ensemble will return with a programme of shows which have already been seen in Stratford including David Farr’s King Lear with Greg Hicks, Rupert Goold’s Romeo and Juliet with Sam Troughton, Michael Boyd’s Antony and Cleopatra with Darrell D’Silva and Kathryn Hunter and the Young People’s Hamlet and Comedy of Errors to the newly launched theatres.
The official opening will take place in April of next year when the RSC celebrates its 50th birthday with new companies and a new season which will be announced in November.
RSC artistic director Michael Boyd said: “Thousands of people have played their part in transforming the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and thousands more will join us for our opening programme, see the new spaces for themselves and share the thrill of reopening with the Royal Shakespeare Company ensemble.
“The experience of other major capital arts projects has led us to choose known and loved repertoire to open a new and untried theatre but there are experiments too and new commissions in this programme, and a range of work from Peter Brook and Roger Rees to Tim Minchin and Camille O’Sullivan that reflects our invitation to new audiences as well as our welcome back to old friends.”
The opening programme of events will include tours, exhibitions and activities aiming to encourage people to discover the new buildings. These will include an auditory and sensory tour evoking memories of the old theatre, treasure hunts and an exhibition looking at the redevelopment.
Legendary director Peter Brook will be bringing Love is my Sin, his own adaptations of Shakespeare’s sonnets, performed by Natasha Parry and Michael Pennington, alongside music by Frank Krawcyk in the Swan Theatre.
More than 300 young writers from the Black Country are working with the RSC’s artistic team to create ten new plays inspired by the ghosts and spirits in Shakespeare. And local amateur groups will be creating pieces for the new stages including a variety evening on December 12.
Throughout the winter there will be a series of one-off events, family activities, education workshops, comedy, music, poetry and art shows.
RSC executive director Vikki Heywood said: “We are very proud to have delivered this new playhouse for Shakespeare on time and on budget and enormously grateful to everyone who has supported us, from the Arts Council and Advantage West Midlands to the more than 13,000 people from 55 countries who have contributed to our fund raising campaign.
“It is clear that the arts face a challenging time over the coming years, along with other publicly funded activities, but, like so many arts organisations, we work hard at a mixed economy, using public investment to leverage other sources of funding and to maintain affordable ticket prices.
"We can be sure our reopened theatres will play an important part in revitalising the local economy.
“Our new home in Stratford-upon-Avon stands at the gateway to one of the country’s most thriving regions and we want to be an integral part of the life of Stratford and the West Midlands as well as a destination for visitors from all parts of the UK and the world.
"I look forward to welcoming people through our doors during our preview period.”
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Productions, events and exhibitions lined up at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
More details at www.rsc.org.uk
Poetry Evening - Uncertainty is not a Good Dog
In association with the Poetry Society
Friday 3 December, 7.30pm
Swan Theatre
Quentin Blake Draws Matilda
Saturday 4 December, 10.30am
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Handbag - Geraldine Pilgrim
Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 December, 6.30pm, 7.15pm, 8pm, 8.45pm and 9.30pm
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Writing on your Feet
Tuesday 7 December, 3pm – Swan Theatre
Thursday 9 December, 3pm – Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Sound and Fury
Wednesday 8 December, 7.30pm
Swan Theatre
Shakespeare meets modern word-play in a site-specific performance by leading UK lyricists and hip-hop artists to launch a cutting edge Education project.
Camille O’Sullivan
Friday 10 December, 7.15pm
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
A One Night Stand With Barrie Rutter
Saturday 11 December, 7.30pm
Swan Theatre
Open House
Sunday 12 December, 7.15pm
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
13 local amateur companies perform extracts from their work
What You Will – Roger Rees
Tuesday 14 December, 7.30pm
Wednesday 15 December, 1.30pm and 7.30pm
Swan Theatre
Lights, Sound, Action!
Wednesday 15 December, 5.45pm
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
The three dimensions of the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre explored and explained by the technical departments. Expect indoor rain, lighting and sound effects.
Love Is My Sin
The Sonnets of William Shakespeare adapted and directed by Peter Brook
A C.I.C.T/ Theatre des Bouffes du Nord production
Friday 7 January, 7.30pm
Saturday 8 January, 1.30pm and 7.30pm
Swan Theatre
Handel’s Messiah – The Stratford-upon-Avon and Huddersfield Choral Societies
Saturday 8 January, 7.15pm
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Return To The Forbidden Planet – Stratford Operatic Society
Sunday 9 January, 7.15pm
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Tim Minchin (Conversation with)
Sunday 16 January, 7.30pm
The Courtyard Theatre
King Lear – RSC production
In rep: 23 February – 2 April
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Romeo and Juliet – RSC production
In rep: 3 March – 2 April
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
RSC Young People’s Shakespeare (YPS) productions of Hamlet and The Comedy of Errors
Innovative versions of Shakespeare for schools and family audiences, inspired by the RSC’s Stand Up For Shakespeare Manifesto.
Hamlet
Edited by Bijan Sheibani and Tarell Alvin McCraney
Swan Theatre
24 February – 25 March 2011
£10. Under 26s, £5
The Comedy of Errors
Edited by Gary Owen. In association with Told By An Idiot.
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
26 March and 2 April
£10. Under 26s, £5
Antony and Cleopatra
3 – 23 March
Swan Theatre
Little Angel Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company present
The Tempest
11 – 26 March
Swan Theatre
The Rape of Lucrece
An RSC Studio production
30 March – 2 April
Swan Theatre
Russell Kane hosts Chris Addison Live At The RSC
Sunday 13 March, 8pm
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
EXHIBITIONS
Transformations
November 2010 – April 2011
The Gallery
Transformations looks at how the best of the existing Art Deco building sits alongside bold new architectural features.
Why?
November 2010 – April 2011
PACCAR Room
Why? is a constantly evolving digital sculpture exploring the answer to one question: ‘Why Shakespeare?’
Neither Here Nor There – George Chakravarthi
November 2010 onwards
Tower Exhibition
George Chakravarthi explores the tragedies in Shakespeare’s texts through hand-painted photographs
My RSC Gallery – Luke Jerram
November 2010 onwards
50 miniature artworks created by the public, schools, RSC staff and actors created in boxes built into the walls of the RSC.
OTHER EVENTS/ACTIVITIES
It’s Your RSC
Wednesdays, 24 November – 26 January, 5.45pm
Open sessions with RSC department heads from across the company.
Poet In Residence – Malika Booker
Malika will be responding to the reopening with newly commissioned poetry, inspired by the building and the people in it. She will also be setting up poetry groups and events.
Ten Minute Tasters
Thursdays and Saturdays, 5.45pm
Learn how props and costumes are made, discover the secrets of the Wig Room and handle items from the RSC Collection
Treasure Trail
The Treasure Trail is a different way for all ages to explore the new building.
Play Cart
Weekends and school holidays
The Play Cart comes out to help children and families discover Shakespeare’s plays.
Ghosts In The Walls
November 2010 – April 2011
Installation that celebrates the past, present and future of the RSC. Images and footage from iconic productions.
Theatre tours
Take a tour exploring the public and private spaces of the RSC.
Downloadable tours
Download a tour to your mp3 player or hire one when at the venue. Pick from several different tours or do them all.
Rooftop Restaurant and Riverside Café
Reservations from October 1 on 01789 403449
RST Viewing Platform
Throughout the day there will be access to a public viewing platform in the auditoria.
BOOKING DATES:
15 Sept – RSC Full members online, 9am
17 Sept – RSC Full members by phone and in person, 9am
29 Sept – RSC Associate members online, 9am
1 October – RSC Associate members by phone and in person, 9am
11 October – Public booking opens – 0844 800 1110 or www.rsc.org.uk
