The Royal Shakespeare Company has performed on this riverbank since 1879, and in its present home since 1932. The 2010 rebuild was one of the great theatre renovations of the century: the old proscenium was ripped out and replaced with a thrust stage that pushes the actors into the middle of a 1,000-seat auditorium, with no seat further than fifteen metres from the action. The result is the most exciting Shakespeare in the world in the town where he was born.
You do not need a ticket to enjoy it. The building is open all day — the rooftop tower gives the best view in Stratford, the riverside terrace is a fine place for a drink, and the restaurant and cafe are open to everyone. Next door, the intimate Swan Theatre stages the less-performed plays in a galleried Elizabethan-style space that many regulars prefer.
Top things to do at Royal Shakespeare Theatre
See a play
The RSC performs Shakespeare and new work year-round across the main house and the Swan. Same-day and standing tickets are often available even when a run looks sold out, and under-25 tickets are heavily discounted.
Go up the tower
A lift takes you to the top of the 1932 tower for a 360-degree view over the river, the church spire and the Tudor roofs of the town. It costs a few pounds and takes ten minutes.
Take a backstage tour
Guided tours run most days and cover the thrust stage, the wings, the costume stores and the technical machinery — genuinely interesting even if you never see a play.
Eat on the terrace
The Rooftop Restaurant and the riverside cafe are open to non-ticket-holders and have the best outlook of anywhere in town.
How to get to Royal Shakespeare Theatre
- Waterside, on the riverbank — three minutes from Bridge Street and five from Henley Street.
- A 12-minute walk from Stratford-upon-Avon railway station, or a stop on the hop-on hop-off bus.
- The nearest car parks are Bridgefoot and the Recreation Ground across the river, both under ten minutes on foot.
Insider tips
- Book plays well ahead for summer and Christmas; for everything else, check the RSC website for returns on the day — they are common.
- Pre-theatre menus around town run from roughly 17:30; book a table when you book the play.
- The tower and the terrace are open to everyone, so put them on your list even on a day with no performance.
- If a big production is sold out, the Swan Theatre next door usually still has seats and is arguably the better room.
