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Queen Opens New RSC Theatre

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As Expected large crowds gathered for the Royal visit by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to Stratford upon Avon to officially open the newly transformed and refurbished Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The weather also turned quite nice as the sun shone and the thousands of people with there flags greeted the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh along Waterside as they made there way to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre arriving at the destination at 12.30pm.

Prior to that the Royal Party had been to Royal Leamington Spa and had visited the Justice Centre where the crowds commented on how nice the Queen looked in her pink outfit.

 Once inside the Theatre the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were given a tour of the newly renovated theatre which cost £112 million to modernise and refurbish by Vikki Heywood who is the executive director at the RSC and Michael Boyd who is the artistic director at the company after the tour the royal party made there way to the rooftop restaurant for lunch.

Then a visit to the Theatre would not have been complete without a performance from one of Shakespeare’s plays so the Queen and the Duke were then taken into the Theatre for a short performance of “Romeo and Juliet” the balcony scene to be exact.

After the performance The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh took to the stage to meet the production team and the actors behind the famous plays and productions at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre this was closely followed by the unveiling of a plaque which officially opened the new theatre.

The large crowds that had gathered to see the Royal Party arrive were still present as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh departed the executive director at the RSC Vikki Heywood commented that this was a fantastic day for the RSC and Stratford upon Avon as a whole and a great moment of celebration.

A commemorative stone designed by Helen Mary Skelton was also unveiled by the Queen the stone will be placed at the base of the Tower and Vikki Heywood also commented that the Royal Shakespeare Theatre had already welcomed over 55,000 visitors to the theatre since the doors were opened last November and it is expected to be a very busy year at the RST with the 50th birthday season which begins this April.

 

Some Facts about the New RST.

 

The new Royal Shakespeare Theatre project took 3yrs to fully complete and cost 112 million in total visitors to the newly revamped theatre can now take there seats in the new “Thrust” Auditorium with more than 1,000 seats it provides a unique experience between the performers and the audience by bringing them closer plus there is now a direct Colonnade which links it to the Swan Theatre. Even some of the old stage boards which over the years have been famously trodden on by such famous theatre and film stars like Sir Laurence Olivier have been retained and re-laid in a space between the foyer in the new theatre and the new auditorium.

Architects Bennett’s and Associates will restore the key Art Deco elements of the grade 2 listed theatres, thus creating a more welcoming and combined entrance for both of the Stratford theatres, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Swan theatre.

 

Plus visitors to the theatre can take in the new restaurant, four bars, cafe and a brand new riverside walk. Or you may want to take a trip up the New Tower which stands at an impressive 36metres or 118ft at the top you will get spectacular views of Warwickshire or the four counties as they are known as long as the weather is clear.

Funding for the redevelopment of the Theatre came from public funding as well as charitable organisations such as the Arts Council and the Lottery Commission.

 

The new season at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre will begin with the first full theatre productions in February and March with productions over the year to include “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” “The Merchant of Venice” and “Macbeth” plus Harold Pinters the “Homecoming” will also be on stage     


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