Curtain goes up on new-look home for Royal Shakespeare Company

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has opened the doors to its revamped Stratford-upon-Avon home.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Nov 2010, 21:50 BST
Updated 23rd Nov 2010, 21:50 BST

More than 100 local school pupils got the first look at the building following a three-and-a-half year 112.8m transformation.

RSC artistic director Michael Boyd said: "Today we are opening the doors of our new home with an invitation for all to come in and explore."

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The company's actors will not tread the boards of the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre until next year, but visitors will be able to see the new auditorium, exhibition spaces and a 36m tower complete with a platform offering a view over the bard's home town.

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre has a new stage with the distance of the furthest seat from the stage being halved to 15m.

Mr Boyd said: "Our transformed Royal Shakespeare Theatre auditorium offers the promise of a changed relationship between actor and audience as its thrust stage steps out from the old proscenium arch and brings the furthest seats twice as close to the action."

Among the highlights of its season, marking its 50th anniversary next April, will be performances of Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The RSC still needs to raise 3.5m towards the cost.