Royal Shakespeare Theatre

We are extremely grateful for English Heritage’s support for our low-key approach to restoration – keeping the theatre’s ‘ghosts’. We are equally grateful that they encouraged us to make a bold new intervention that will add a worthy 21st -century contribution to the complex history of our theatre buildings. Peter Wilson, Project Director, Royal Shakespeare Company

The grade II* listed Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon was designed by Elisabeth Scott in a sumptuous Art Deco style and opened in 1932. It is an emblematic building for its era but was compromised by its layout, which consequently limited its success as a performance space. The dressing rooms were cramped and the main auditorium had an inflexible proscenium stage with difficult sight-lines. Only about 800 of a potential audience of 1300 could see the faces of those on the stage.

A call for the theatre to be demolished caused local and national protest among the public, within the conservation sector, and indeed, within the Royal Shakespeare Company itself. An analysis of the building, following English Heritage’s guidelines, provided an objective understanding of its historic significance. The analysis demonstrated that it was possible to replace the auditorium without damaging historically significant features of the building, such as the Art Deco foyer, that justified its listing.

This work is now underway. The modern structure has been expertly woven into the foyer, which is being conserved. A new auditorium is rising within the theatre. A tower is being added, so that visitors can view the town of Shakespeare’s birth. This prominent, and initially controversial, structure was supported by English Heritage and had a historic precedent in the original theatre’s tower, which had been destroyed in a fire.

A key part of the story of English 20th -century cultural life has been saved, and is in the process of being reinvented as a structure that will be a worthy home for the work of the Bard of Stratford.