Royal Shakespeare Theatre

We visited last night to see 'The Winters Tale'. This was our third time here and as always it was amazing! It never ceases to amaze me how these incredible actors take these plays, written over 400 years ago, and make so brilliant and relevant for today. It doesn't matter that the old English is difficult or that you only know a brief outline of the plot, they draw you into the story and you understand it completely and it's spellbinding! The layout and intimacy of this beautiful, unique theatre make It so special and no-one will ever do Shakespeare better than the RSC. It was emotional, atmospheric, heart-breaking and funny at times, and just fantastic!

So, wanted to see a Shakespeare play in his home town, and the RSC delivered! Fantastic venue that utilizes some modern technologies to help tell a great story. I loved my seats, but it felt like anywhere in the theater would have had a great viewing experience, and I'm going to test this each time I go back. We saw a modernized version of Much Ado about Nothing, and the 3 hours just flew by. This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip, and I cannot recommend it enough. From the venue to the staff to the concessions, from the gift shop to the mini bars, this place was too notch and is well worth planning a visit to!! They even offer a tour, which I didn't have time to take on this trip, but I'm looking forward to exploring the entire theater the next time I'm in the UK

We visited recently for the contemporary performance of Much Ado About Nothing featuring Dr Who actress Freema Agyeman, which we thoroughly enjoyed. The modern touches were brilliant (calling the smartphone assistant Sirrah was genius) and the production was really well put together. The performances were great, although be aware that there are no microphones being used – it's natural voices all the way, and sometimes the performers were hard to hear. The seats were pretty comfy, though as a six-footer a bit more legroom would have been nice. During the intermission, drinks and snacks were available from the bar or the cafe. The toilets were very clean, but there was a bit of a queue – understandable given how many attendees there were! There's free on-street parking after 6pm on many of the nearby roads, and plenty of paid for car parks too within a few minutes' walk. The staff were encountered were friendly and welcoming, and we'll definitely be back for future shows.

Saw Much Ado...fabulous experience. Also had drinks at their Riverside cafe a couple of times - great location. Can't wait to see another production there.

Wonderful experience! Nothing like this experience considering the importance of venue and the vibes

Yesterday evening I watched The Winters Tale by William Shakespeare at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford upon Avon. The play was brilliant! Bertie Carvel was excellent! The whole play was so atmospheric. The music, singing, and choreography was superb!

Fabulously inventive and very funny production of Much Ado About Nothing. Incredible set and witty performances. Met Nick and Freema at the stage door - so friendly and chatty. The RSC never disappoints. We loved this fresh adaptation of a much-loved play.

Fabulous setting and an excellent production of The Constant Wife in the Swan Theatre. It was full. The photos were taken well before the play started.

Had a wonderful recent "doubleheader" visit here watching both Henry VI: Rebellion and the Wars of the Roses. Great production values, okay pricing, and even was treated to a meal in the restaurant by a friend. Bookshop is worth a visit too, if you have any Shakespeare lovers to shop for.

Several levels of seating. Upper seating has railing in front which obstructs view. Need to lean forward for clear view. The two performances I have been to have been entertaining. Most of cast do a good job. Ushers helpful. Need to open bags for security check. Recommend online ticket purchase.

Easy walk from our hotel (Crowne Plaza). We ate dinner upstairs at the rooftop restaurant before seeing "Julius Caesar." The stage design was cool. Great actors. Chairs weren't very comfortable, and the air conditioner was on too high. Several audience members were SO noisy!! Maybe announcements should be made about theatre etiquette. There were plenty of toilets for women which is unusual.

Beautiful location right on the water and nice outlay of the theater. The play was less traditional and more modern than I had expected.

The production quality of Shakespeare at this theater cannot be beat. I have seen Hamlet and Julius Cesar and both were incredible. The theater has been rebuilt since my prior visit here and I really like the new layout. More authentic and I don't think there is a bad view in the house. We purchased our ticket to Julius Cesar pretty late and had good seats on the main floor. There was an aisle right next to us that the actors actually used in a meaningful way. If you are visiting Stratford-upon-avon, I highly recommend spending the night and catching a show here!

I did not know much about Shakespeare and the play was not one that I have ever heard of before. But it was a great experience in the Royal Theater! The play turned out to be very entertaining and I would definitely go to another play in the Royal Theater. It gave me a new appreciation for Shakespeare works. This is a must see and do item!

Everything about this place: YESS!!! The location is beautiful, it is alongside the river & you can even see the beautiful swans. I had the chance of seeing the following plays: Julius Caesar, Anthony & Cleopatra, Titus Andronicus. All were amazing and an experience that I will never forget. The first play that I went to see, I couldn't find my ticket and they were really nice about looking me up and allowing me to go in. If you are visiting England this a place that you MUST VISIT, I would recommend to everyone. They also have the swan theatre which is just as beautiful, but smaller. I saw one of my favorite plays here, Salome and I also saw Vice Versa.

Review #700. I know it has been almost five years but the RSC will forever remain at a very special place in my heart, which is why I am saving my 700th yelp review for it. I only stayed in Stratford for a weekend, but it was such a surprisingly delightful trip. I got to see Shakespeare's birthplace (the room where he was born) and his tombstone. When I visited the town, I remember seeing lots of buildings under construction for some reason. It is a beautiful town for strolls. The theater is right next to the river. I don't remember much of the theater itself other than being seating in the second row. I saw the production "As You Like It" and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I do remember getting a fantastic view of the stage. The actors are professional and world-renowned. They even got invited to perform on Broadway several years back. Overall, highly recommended!

I went to see Hamlet with my family at the famous Royal Shakespeare theatre this week. It the first time I've actually seem a play at theatre despite living in the Midlands for over 20 years: I'm not the worlds greatest Shakespeare fan but this particular version of this particular play has been highly recommended. We ordered tickets and collected them on arrival. The recommended arrival is 15 mins before the start but we arrived earlier to allow for parking difficulties (which we need not have worried about). I would recommend allowing a bit long that 15 minutes as the ticket collection queue was also the ticket purchasing queue and there were lots of tourists buying at the last minute - that's Stratford for you! The place was really buzzing and it was good to see so many people from around the world visiting the local area. We had a quick browse around the lovely gift shop which is well stocked with interesting Shakespeare related souvenirs and books. Then went upstairs to order interval drinks and take in the view of the park which is next to the theatre. The Hamlet production we saw has an almost entirely black cast. The she setting and cost ones are very different to the classic Shakespeare and, for me, this made it way more interesting. The acting was immaculate and the audience were enthralled throughout. The play is quite long - starting at 7.15, with a break it finished around 10.30 but the seating in the RSC is comfortable with a decent amount of legroom. Drinks were ready for us in the interval. The bar was clingy and airy and we were able to stand out on a small balcony and take in the views. All in all a great evening. Hamlet finishes on 13th August so you need to be quick if you want to go and see it.

We didn't see a show and rather went to see the upstairs bar. The restaurant/bar is located on the third floor. It was an amazing view. It is smaller and more intimate than other places around town. They have a beautiful outside that you can overlook some of downtown. It was a little colder so we did not sit outside.

I'm not sure if this listing is for the company itself or for the theater or for their productions, but I am going to talk about one experience that I had here at the Swan Theatre. Obviously, the work of the Royal Shakespeare Company over the years speaks for itself. I came to England in August 2006 with my mother, and the reason that we chose those dates was to see The Tempest at the Swan, as part of the RSC's Complete Works Festival. The Tempest is one of my three favorite Shakespeare plays, and Sir Patrick Stewart was playing Prospero. He is an excellent actor; my mother and I were Star Trek: The Next Generation fans, and I've enjoyed his work in other films since then. We were thrilled to be there, and overall the experience was great. Let's be honest though--the old Swan was not a great theater. It was a bland proscenium stage with vertiginously steep seating in the upper levels (Chicagoans, think Auditorium Theater), and our seats in the upper left corner were pretty bad. Thankfully, they are building a new theater. But the show was great, and we had no complaints about the production. Patrick Stewart was the obvious standout in the cast, but I also really liked the Ferdinand (Nick Court). Julian Bleach as the white-faced Ariel was amazing. I had never seen a menacing and sinister Ariel before; the effect was quite powerful. I also loved the set design. They set the play on an icy island rather than a tropical one as is customary, a brilliant concept executed very well. Prospero wore ragged furs and blew on his hands when he came in from the storm. The Complete Works festival was a ambitiously marvelous idea, and I'm sorry that I could see only one play. I hope that they were all as high-quality as their Tempest. I look forward to seeing another RSC production on future visits.

Booked tickets to see Love's Labour's Won aka Much Ado About Nothing. I have always loved the witty banter between Beatrice and Benedict, and the two actors portraying these characters, were great. However for the first time, I realize how badly Claudio treated Hero, something I hadn't really realized in previous readings/ theatre dramatizations of this play. Wonderful physical comedy, esp by the constable (Dogberry!) He was the highlight and gets a special mention because you can understand his malapropism and lack of mental acuity in the context of PTSD (the play set design has "Shakespeare's comic romance play out amidst the brittle high spirits of a post-war house party," (direct quote from website). We had really excellent seats in the upper circle, dead front of the stage, but omg, the seats themselves are SO uncomfortable! They are hard, with little space in front to stretch out ones legs without hitting the back of the seat of the person sitting in front of you. So while the play was magical, I really felt the awkwardness of the seats as realized bum+legs were cramped during the intermission. And that's why it's only 4 stars and not 5. But, I would definitely go see another play here again - what's a little bit of cramping when weighed against the magic of such wonderful acting and the thrill of seeing the Bards plays in his hometown theater.

One of the great experiences of my life. I have always been fond of Shakespeare, even if I don't always understand it. I think it's my affinity for things outside the norm of my day to day life. It's an escape. When we visited Stratford upon Avon in central England, we knew that being the birthplace of Shakespeare that it would likely be touristy, and it is. But not overblown. The town does a decent job of staying with it's roots. But one must see sight (other than his actual home) is the Royal Shakespeare Company's theater right on the river here, that puts on plays year round. I have never seen a Shakespeare play in person, acted by professional Shakespeare actors. I f you've seen a local community show, or an adaptation somewhere, you haven't really seen Shakespeare either, unless you see it here. The day we were here they were performing Twelfth Night. I didn't know the play well, but that didn't matter. This company is expert at conveying the story to you in multiple ways. Even if you don't speak English, I think you could get the gist of the story and really enjoy it. The actors know the material so well and act out every line not only in words but in facial expressions, emotions, gestures, etc. I'm not a huge play guy, but somehow I felt like I was in the story. If you are ever in this part of England, do yourself a favor and set aside an evening to attend a play here. (call ahead for tickets. It's a small theater and it sells out fast)

Did my heart love til now? I am now completely in love with the RSC and the grounds too. I went to see The Merry Wives of Windsor yesterday and had a day to remember forever. A friend of mine from drama school from Coventry took me to Stratford Upon Avon and I'm still gassed about it now. The production was wonderful , the staff were friendly, the yoghurt coated rasberries we had in the interval were also delicious! Just an absolute treat! everyone must go here!

The Shakespeare Theater is a wonderful venue for plays, restaurant, and museum. This should be a must-see for every tourist and a frequent 'hot spot' for even the fortunate locals who live here! It's beautifully set on the river. And if you enjoy a bite to eat there, you'll overlook the river and all the activities and back and forth around it. The food at the restaurant is wonderful (order the Caesar Salad) and if you dine here, there's a piece of the old wall still standing and now part of the interior and plastered with cool posters. It's also worth taking a walk around the perimeter and noting the old along with the new. "To be, or not to be" here is the only question.

I really like this theatre. It's a comfortable space and we have never been disappointed with anything we've seen. Imaginative use of space, live musicians, top performers. It really is a treat.

Quality theatre in a quality space, and at quality prices. Not only are the shows absolutely top notch -- I mean, it's the RSC, can you expect any less? -- the site itself is impressively spacious, well-signed, and filled with all sorts of hidden 'treasures' by way of costume/prop/history exhibits interspersed throughout. The staff, also, are lovely, and happy to answer any questions that you may have, both about the theatre and the shows playing within. The auditorium itself is split into three levels: ground/floor, circle, and upper circle. Even though we were seated at, literally, the highest/furthest away possible place in the theatre, we still had a great view of the stage. This was because the seats in the back rows of the upper circle region are 'high chairs', and allow you to perch on the edge of them/crane your neck over to get a good look. Acoustics were great as well, though this is obviously also due to the calibre/abilities of the actors. The audiovisuals in the theatre are very modern and high-tech, with a cool variety of lighting effects that were readily observable by everyone in the space. Last, but not least, I paid a mere £17 to see a professional, world-reknowned company perform Hamlet (argued by some as Shakespeare's greatest play, but I'm not buying it. Still, a great one, and a 'must see'). If that, alone, isn't worth the trip to Stratford, I don't know what is.

We saw Henry IV at the theater and it was well done. The theater was renovated a few years ago and they did a nice job. That said, the seats are close together and don't have arm rests, and there are obstructed views in the second and third level balcony seats. Nonetheless, the venue is intimate and the voices carry well. It's a great place to see theater. I did not eat or drink here although there is food and alcohol available.

A superb venue. I caught two performances here during my time in Stratford, and both were outstanding, especially the performance of Julius Caesar re-imagined as a tale in modern Africa. There's barely a bad seat in the house, and even the semi-obstructed views are still fantastic; you may just have to lean forward a bit!

Spent an evening with the family to see Othello. Not much more to add than has already been mentioned. The evening is entirely about the performance, however the staff are friendly, the views from our seats in the upper circle were terrific and the overall atmosphere conducive to a cultured night out.

I went to go visit my daughter in England and our first stop was in Stratford Upon Avon . We went to where Shakespeare was born, Anne Hatheway's cottage, Holy Trinity Church and just happened upon The Royal Shakespeare Theatre while out for a walk. We went into the gift shop, found out there was a play that night, bought tickets, went to eat dinner at a nearby pub, then came back & watched the show. It was amazing!!! Our seats were at the very top but we could see everything so well! The stage was so cool. The actors were great & we thoroughly enjoyed it! I'd love to go again!

I went to see Peter Pan at the Royal Shakespeare theater. Of course I had the seat where the pole was blocking the stage. It was entertaining and much funny than I had anticipated. The staff was kind here. The prices are relatively fair. I was expecting to pay a lot more. This is a must do for tourists.