Royal Shakespeare Company

Stratford Upon Avon

Royal Shakespeare Company (Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK)

The Royal Shakespeare Company is one of the best known theatre companies in the world, operating under its present name since 1961. However the RSC’s roots stretch back to the building of the first permanent theatre in Stratford. In 1875, Charles Edward Flower, a Stratford brewer, launched an international campaign to build a theatre in the town of Shakespeare’s birth. His donation of the now famous two-acre site began a family tradition of generosity to the theatre which continues today. Almost 50 years of excellence were recognised in 1925 by the granting of a Royal Charter, but only a year later the theatre was destroyed by fire.

In 1960, Peter Hall formed the modern Royal Shakespeare Company and in 1961, the Memorial Theatre was renamed the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The repertoire widened to take in modern work and classics other than Shakespeare. Despite the growth from Festival theatre to international status, the values of the RSC today have changed very little since 1905.