Acting with the RSC at The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon has been one of the most exciting stage experiences of my life. I'll never forget that moment, early in rehearsals, when the whole company was ushered onto that stage, just to get the feel of it. We looked at all those empty seats, none of them more than fifty feet away, and we knew we were in for something special.

John Lithgow, on playing Malvolio in Twelfth Night

We got more, and better, than we bargained for, on time and on budget. Watching the first public performance from the furthest seat was proof that we had achieved our aims for our audience, in a splendid and charismatic setting.

Sir Christopher Bland, Chairman, RSC

PROJECTS - RSC COURTYARD THEATRE

main image: stewart hemley / rsc

RSC COURTYARD THEATRE
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

PROJECT COST: £6 million
COMPLETED: July 2006
PROJECT ARCHITECT: Ian Ritchie Architects

…auditorium planning for a large team on a fast track project

Project summary

Our involvement with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s new Courtyard Theatre included providing a multitude of alternative auditorium designs, seating and sightline proposals, complete stagelighting and audiovisual systems tenders, and creating bespoke stage engineering systems to a tight timescale and in extremely close collaboration with the RSC’s staff and advisors.

The Courtyard was designed within 6 months and built in 11 months, and was completed on time and on budget.

 

The Courtyard is now the RSC's sole theatre in Stratford whilst the existing Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Swan Theatre undergo a substantial refurbishment.

"When we walked in for the first time, there was an audible gasp... it’s so high, like a cathedral of theatre, but then you notice how close the audience is. The space is big, but they’re right there. It’s a perfect example of marrying the epic with the domestic and personal."

Chuk Iwuji, RSC actor, on playing Henry VI