Royal Shakespeare

THE COMPANY'S PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES LAID DOWN IN THE ROYAL CHARTER ARE TO CONSERVE, ADVANCE AND DISSEMINATE THE DRAMATIC HERITAGE OF SHAKESPEARE AND TO ADVANCE AND IMPROVE THE DRAMATIC ART, BOTH IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THE COMPANY IS CHARGED WITH PRODUCING AND PRESENTING DRAMATIC PERFORMANCES OF ALL KINDS, AND WITH TEACHING AND TRAINING AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

STRATFORD STRATEGY HIGHLIGHTS AND MILESTONES IN THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2023, IN STRATFORD, ARE INCLUDED IN THE LIST BELOW, WHICH IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE BUT IS INTENDED TO DEMONSTRATE OUR WORK ON STAGE, AND ALSO OFF STAGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES AND OTHER WORK THAT FURTHERS OUR CHARITABLE OBJECTIVES. THE FOLLOWING STRATFORD STRATEGY SECTION TAKES IN KEY ORGANISATIONAL MOMENTS DURING THE PERIOD SUCH AS CHANGE OF ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP.IN APRIL, WE OPENED HENRY VI PART I (REBELLION) AND PART II (WAR OF THE ROSES). DIRECTED BY OWEN HORSLEY, THESE TWO PRODUCTIONS SAW 70 COMMUNITY PERFORMERS FROM SIX REGIONS OF ENGLAND JOIN OUR PROFESSIONAL COMPANY TO TELL THIS THRILLING TALE OF ENGLAND AT WAR. JUNE SAW ARTHUR HUGHES MAKE HIS ACCLAIMED RSC TITLE ROLE DEBUT IN RICHARD III, THE FIRST TIME THAT THE PART OF RICHARD III HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY A DISABLED ACTOR IN THE RSC'S HISTORY. THE PRODUCTION DIRECTED BY GREGORY DORAN WAS ALSO BROADCAST LIVE, DIRECT INTO UK CLASSROOMS FOR FREE, INCLUDING A SUPPORTING PACKAGE OF ONLINE RESOURCES DESIGNED TO GIVE STUDENTS A UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND INTERPRETIVE CHOICES THAT DIRECTORS AND ACTORS MAKE AS THEY PREPARE TO STAGE A NEW PRODUCTION. AUGUST SAW THE OPENING OF OUR NEW MAIN STAGE PRODUCTION OF ALL'S WELL THAT END'S WELL. SHAKESPEARE'S ENDURING DARK COMEDY, EXPLORING THEMES OF ROMANTIC FANTASY, TOXIC MASCULINITY AND CONSENT FOR THE SOCIAL MEDIA GENERATION WAS DIRECTED BY BLANCHE MCINTYRE WITH ROSIE SHEEHY IN THE ROLE OF HELENA. DURING OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, WE WELCOMED AUDIENCES BACK TO OUR STUDIO THEATRE AT THE OTHER PLACE WITH A NEW MISCHIEF FESTIVAL. THE FESTIVAL COMPRISED OF TWO BRAND NEW PLAYS, ORIGINALLY PLANNED AND PROGRAMMED FOR PRODUCTION PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC WHICH EXPLORED CONTEMPORARY BRITAIN TODAY - O, ISLAND! BY NINA SEGAL AND IVY TILLER: VICAR'S DAUGHTER, SQUIRREL KILLER BY BEA ROBERTS. DECEMBER SAW THE CALENDAR YEAR DRAW TO A CLOSE WITH A REVIVAL OF DAVID EDGAR'S ACCLAIMED VERSION OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL WITH ADRIAN EDMONDSON AS SCROOGE IN A SELL-OUT RUN IN THE RST. WE ALSO ANNOUNCED THE WORLD PREMIERE STAGE ADAPTATION OF MAGGIE O'FARRELL'S BEST-SELLING NOVEL HAMNET. DIRECTED BY ERICA WHYMAN AND ADAPTED BY LOLITA CHAKRABARTI THIS PRODUCTION WOULD ALSO REOPEN THE SWAN THEATRE AFTER A CLOSURE PERIOD OF 3 YEARS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND ALSO A SIGNIFICANT REFURBISHMENT OF THE SPACE. THE SHOW SOLD OUT WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF ANNOUNCEMENT.IN JANUARY, WE OPENED A CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION OF THE TEMPEST, DIRECTED BY ELIZABETH FREESTONE WITH ALEX KINGSTON AS PROSPERO AND INTRODUCING JESSICA RHODES AS MIRANDA. IN FEBRUARY, DIRECTOR ATRI BANERJEE'S BOLD NEW TAKE ON JULIUS CAESAR DESIGNED TO BE PLAYED IN STRATFORD FOR A SHORT RUN BEFORE HEADING OFF ON A UK TOUR VISITING 9 THEATRES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS CONTEMPORARY PRODUCTION SAW THALISSA TEIXEIRA AND KELLY GOUGH PLAY THE ROLES OF BRUTUS AND CASSIUS.LONDON STRATEGYMATILDA THE MUSICAL CONTINUED YEAR-ROUND AT THE CAMBRIDGE THEATRE LONDON PLAYING TO PACKED HOUSES AND THE HIGHEST ADVANCE IN A DECADE, HELPED IN PART BY THE SUCCESS OF THE MOVIE VERSION RELEASED BY SONY/NETFLIX. THE REOPENING SUCCESS LOOKED FAR FROM CERTAIN AT POINTS POST PANDEMIC, BUT THE CONTINUED CARE AND ATTENTION OF THE PRODUCTION HAS HELPED IT MAINTAIN ITS POSITION AS A PREMIUM SHOW IN THE WEST END LANDSCAPE. IN APRIL 2022, WE ANNOUNCED THAT THE WORLD PREMIERE STAGE ADAPTATION OF MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO WOULD TAKE PLACE AT THE BARBICAN IN THE WINTER. PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JOE HISAISHI, IMPROBABLE AND NIPPON TV, THE PRODUCTION WOULD BE BASED ON THE BELOVED STUDIO GHIBLI FILM BY HAYAO MIYAZAKI. AN ACCLAIMED INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE TEAM CAME TOGETHER INCLUDING PHELIM MCDERMOTT AS DIRECTOR, WITH PUPPETS BUILT BY JIM HENSON'S CREATURE SHOP IN LOS ANGELES TO BASIL TWIST'S INCREDIBLE DESIGNS. ONCE BOOKING OPENED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IT BROKE BOX OFFICE RECORDS AT THE BARBICAN FOR THE MOST TICKETS SOLD IN A SINGLE DAY. FOLLOWING THE PRESS NIGHT IN OCTOBER AND GARNERING A SLEW OF 5* REVIEWS IT WENT ONTO WIN 5 WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS AND THEN 6 OLIVIER AWARDS (HAVING LED THE FIELD WITH 9 NOMINATIONS). EDUCATION STRATEGY AND NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY IN APRIL, WE APPOINTED TWO RESEARCH FELLOWS TO LEAD OUR TIME TO ACT RESEARCH PROJECT WHICH FOCUSES ON UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF RSC TEACHING APPROACHES ON THE ENGAGEMENT, INCLUSION AND ATTAINMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN SCHOOLS IN AREAS OF STRUCTURAL DISADVANTAGE. IN JUNE, WE WELCOMED YOUNG PEOPLE TO OUR FIRST NEXT GENERATION DIRECT RESIDENTIAL, EQUIPPING 18 - 25 YEARS FROM GROUPS UNDER-REPRESENTED IN THE THEATRE SECTOR WITH AN INTRODUCTION TO THE THEATRE INDUSTRY AND ROLE OF DIRECTOR. IN JULY, WE WELCOMED 390 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE FROM 47 ASSOCIATE SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES FROM BLACKPOOL, CORNWALL, COUNTY DURHAM, CUMBRIA, HULL, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE AND SUFFOLK WHO PERFORMED MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING IN THE RST. THE PERFORMANCES WERE THE CULMINATION OF WORK THAT HAS INCLUDED TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ARTIST RESIDENCIES, DEVELOPING YOUNG LEADERS THROUGH OUR SHAKESPEARE AMBASSADORS PROGRAMME, AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH OUR NEXT GENERATION PROJECT. IN ADDITION TO PERFORMANCES IN STRATFORD, 17 REGIONAL PERFORMANCE FESTIVALS HAVE TAKEN PLACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THEATRES, TOWN HALLS AND SCHOOL HALLS, SUPPORTED BY AUDIENCES OF FAMILY MEMBERS, PEERS AND COMMUNITIES. IN AUGUST, WE DELIVERED TWO SUMMER SCHOOLS, ONE FOR 18 - 25 YEAR OLDS (ATTENDED BY 24 YOUNG PEOPLE) AND ONE FOCUSED ON LIFE-LONG LEARNERS (ATTENDED BY 128 PEOPLE). IN SEPTEMBER, WE STARTED REHEARSALS FOR OUR FIRST ENCOUNTERS WITH SHAKESPEARE PRODUCTION OF TWELFTH NIGHT. AIMED AT 7-13 YEAR OLDS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THE PRODUCTION WAS CO-CREATED WITH OUR PARTNER THEATRES AND ASSOCIATE SCHOOLS. DRAWING ON THE PASSION THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND CONCERN FOR CLIMATE CHANGE THE PRODUCTION WAS ROOTED IN SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE, FROM THE DESIGN OF THE SET (MADE BY STUDENTS FROM BIRMINGHAM ORMISTON ACADEMY USING RECLAIMED AND RECYCLED MATERIALS) TO HOW IT TOURED THE COUNTRY. IT PLAYED IN 20 LOCATIONS ACROSS ENGLAND, INCLUDING 13 SCHOOLS, TO A TOTAL AUDIENCE OF 8,228 PEOPLE. 30% OF AUDIENCES WERE SEEING SHAKESPEARE FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE ANNOUNCED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW SHAKESPEARE CURRICULUM. WE HAVE ONE OF THE UK'S LARGEST ARTS LEARNING PROGRAMMES AND BELIEVE THAT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO AN ARTS-RICH EDUCATION. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS THE UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD WITH SOME YOUNG PEOPLE HAVING REGULAR ACCESS TO PROVEN LIFE DEFINING ARTS OPPORTUNITIES, WHILST OTHERS MISS OUT COMPLETELY.THE CURRICULUM WILL BE AVAILABLE FREE AND ONLINE FOR ALL UK SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE INSPIRATION AND RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE AND SHAPE THEIR OWN SHAKESPEARE CURRICULUM AT KEY STAGE 3. AND WE LAUNCHED OUR NEW PROGRAMME FOR TEACHERS INCLUDING A SANDWICH COURSE LEADING TO A CERTIFICATE IN THE TEACHING OF SHAKESPEARE. IN NOVEMBER, WE WELCOMED 100 REPRESENTATIVES (MADE UP OF 20 YOUNG PEOPLE, 70 TEACHERS AND 10 ARTISTS) FROM OUR ASSOCIATE SCHOOLS AND REGIONAL THEATRE PARTNERS TO STRATFORD FOR AN ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM, TO SHARE LEARNING AND REFRESH PRACTICE. IN JANUARY, WE OPENED SUBMISSIONS FOR OUR NATIONWIDE PLAYWRITING COMPETITION 37 PLAYS. A PROJECT WHEREBY ANYONE COULD SUBMIT A PLAY IN ANY FORMAT TO CAPTURE THE STORIES OF TODAY CREATING A NEW FOLIO FOR OUR TIMES. THE PROJECT WAS CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR 12 REGIONAL THEATRE PARTNERS AND SUPPORTED BY AWARD-WINNING PLAYWRIGHTS JULIET GILKES-ROMERO AND MARK RAVENHILL ACTING AS AMBASSADORS AND SENIOR CONSULTANTS. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT 37PLAYS.CO.UK. OVER 2,000 PLAYS WERE SUBMITTED, THE MAJORITY BY FIRST TIME WRITERS. IN FEBRUARY, WE WORKED WITH MEMBERS OF OUR YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD ON PLANNING A YOUNG CREATIVES CONVENTION TAKING PLACE IN THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE THEATRE IN 23/24. IN MARCH, WE UNDERTOOK 26 PARTNERSHIP REVIEW MEETINGS WITH EACH OF OUR LEAD ASSOCIATE SCHOOLS. WE DELIVERED A VIRTUAL LIVE LESSON ON THE TEMPEST WITH OVER 3,000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING AND INTRODUCED TIKTOK TICKETS: A NEW INITIATIVE TO OPEN ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TARGETED PARTICULARLY AT THOSE LIVING IN COMMUNITIES FACING STRUCTURAL DISADVANTAGE WAS LAUNCHED.