The Royal Shakespeare Company (at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre) is based in Stratford-upon-Avon – the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The theatre is dedicated to the playwright, and the majority of its productions are reimaginations of his works. The theatre was designed by Elisabeth Scott and is therefore considered to be the first important work to be constructed in Britain by a female architect.

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre originally opened in 1932 as the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in recognition of the previous theatre on its site. It had the ‘classic’ theatre layout of a proscenium arch and three-tier seating, with a capacity of around 1,400. The theatre also had two tiers of seating to the side of the walls of the theatre and Art Deco features. It is a Grade II-listed building. The venue became the home of The Royal Shakespeare Company in 1962 and was renamed to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

The theatre has always been successful and the continuing collaboration with private and local bodies (such as the Arts Council) saw a major renovation in 2010. The Transformation Project (as the renovation was dubbed) included the creation of a new thrust stage auditorium which brings actors and audiences closer, replicating the style of Elizabethan theatres.

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre presents some of the finest productions of Shakespeare and other Elizabethan re-workings in the world. It is widely regarded as one of the best places to see theatre by the great playwright.