The heritage of the Royal Shakespeare Company stretches back over 100 years to the foundation of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, built on the banks of the river in Shakespeare's home town of Stratford upon Avon in 1879. The high standards of RSC performance have been set by some of the greatest names from stage and film including Sir Lawrence Olivier, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Antony Sher and Kenneth Branagh, all of whom continue to inspire today's acting companies.

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has two theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon - the 1040+ seat Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST) and the 450-capacity Swan Theatre. The RSC recently transformed its Stratford home as part of a £112.8m project that has seen the creation of a new thrust stage auditorium for the RST, which brings actors and audiences closer together, with the distance of the furthest seat from the stage falling from 27m to 15m. The Transformation project also included the creation of an array of new public spaces, including a Riverside Cafe, Rooftop Restaurant with views across the River Avon and Bancroft Gardens, and a Tower with 32m high viewing platform and views over Stratford-upon-Avon and the surrounding counties.

The theatres re-opened in November 2010 for preview events and activities, following their closure in 2007. The first full Shakespeare performances began in February 2011, performed by the RSC's existing ensemble. From April - December 2011, the RSC celebrates its 50th Birthday Season, with two companies of actors performing the first full performances designed specifically for the Royal Shakespeare and Swan Theatre stages.

Shakespeare's great plays are at the heart of a repertoire which includes other classic and modern works. The RSC Summer and Winter Seasons run throughout the year in Stratford: a traditional market town with a wealth of places to visit. The RSC also regularly performs in Newcastle and in London as well as on tour across the UK and the world. For more information visit www.rsc.org.uk.

Theatre tours operate daily.
See website for details www.rsc.org.uk.
Telephone the RSC's ticket hotline on 0844 800 1110