Royal Shakespeare Company

In the heart of Statford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, the RSC bring us exciting takes on Shakespearean classics, as well as new and imaginative theatre with actors at the top of their game.

Seating: The Royal Shakespeare Theatre seats just over 1000 people, with audience on three sides of the stage (a “thrust” stage) across three tiers (stalls, circle and upper circle). Productions are specially designed to play to all three sides of the audience, although generally the best views (and most expensive tickets) are reserved for those sitting face-on rather than on the sides. Seating at the back of the stalls is cheaper but the chairs are higher and do not have arm rests. Sitting in the upper circle is your cheapest option, but view restrictions means you may end up leaning over the barriers to see properly. Leg room throughout is fine – perhaps a little restrictive on the front row of the circle and upper circle.

The Swan Theatre is a smaller replica of the RST, and is in the same building (the other side of the gift shop!). The Swan seats 460 people, again across three tiers (ground, gallery one and gallery two). A recent refurbishment of the Swan Theatre means that this space boasts some of the comfiest seats imaginable, with stacks of leg room!

Just down the road is The Other Place, a small studio space where the RSC holds its most intimate productions. Seating arrangements vary for each production, and can seat up to 200 people.

In 2021, the RSC built the Garden Theatre in the Swan Gardens, allowing them to perform outdoor theatre during the Covid pandemic. The Garden Theatre was brought back for summer 2024 for their production of ‘As You Like It’. Whether it will return again remains to be seen.

Parking: My preferred parking spot is at the Leisure Centre Car Park, which is around a 10 minute walk from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The parking here is cheap, and there are always plenty of spaces. Bridgefoot Car Park is a slightly closer, multi-storey car park.

See my latest reviews for productions at the RSC