Shakespeare Theatre and RSC Stratford

It shouldn’t be a surprise that The Royal Shakespeare Company has its main theatre located in the birthplace of William Shakespeare. This is right exactly in the picturesque English town of Stratford – where the current theatre itself overlooks the River Avon.

Shakespeare, after all, was the main element in the creation of the company. One of the greatest playwrights of all time, Shakespeare had left his masterpieces as a legacy to the theatre industry.

It was the love for Shakespeare’s work which initiated the creation of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).

One of the best known theater companies in the globe, the RSC performed thousands of plays all throughout the world since it was founded. The company was able to highly promote the theater industry and had uplifted the elegance that theatrical plays have. They were able to do so by incorporating all the drama, beauty and fulfillment that theatrical plays could give to its avid spectators.

History

The name Royal Shakespeare Company, or the RSC, was actually given in 1961 to Peter Hall’s new acting company which was formed in the previous year. Concurrently, the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, which had been granted a Royal Charter in the year 1925 and was rebuilt in 1932, became known as The Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

It was Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing that has been performed in The Royal Shakespeare Theatre’s 1879 opening. Following this event, the theatre had been frequented by famous visitors such as Ellen Terry from 1907. By the year 1910, a month long summer season began which was directed by F.R. Benson.

In 1925, the theatre was granted the Royal Charter for its excellence, however, bad luck had struck and fire destroyed it a year later. Productions were still performed in a local cinema and was supervised and directed by William Bridges-Adams. By that time also, a new international campaign to build a new theatre was launched.

Between the years 1932-1961, the theatre was able to draw established Shakesperean actors such as Laurence Olivier, Michael Redgrave, Vivien Leigh and John Gielgud as well as attract new talent from the likes of Richard Burton.

It was in the year 1960 that the modern RSC was formed by Peter Hall, and in 1961 the Memorial Hall was given a new name of Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Additionally, during the ’60s, modern works as well as the traditional Shakespeare were performed in the Theatre.

In the year 1986, the only part of the original Gothic building that consisted the Memorial Theatre became home to the Swan Theatre —- a modern version of the Elizabethan Playhouses.

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Company Now

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is once again being transformed and rebuilt. It is arranged to re-open in 2010 as possibly the world’s best space for performance of Shakespearean works. Consequently, since the theatre is still on the works, the RSC is temporarily based at The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford. What’s definite is that over the years, millions of people have been drawn to the latest RSC productions.

Also, The Royal Shakespeare Company has maintained its claim as a major tourist attraction for those visiting Stratford, and is the main attraction for thousands of guests staying in the variety of Stratford upon Avon Hotels. They are able to continue to offer innovative and ground-breaking theatrical productions around the world.