Collections
The RSC's historic collections include costumes spanning the history of the theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, paintings dating from the 18th and 21st Centuries, designs, prints and drawings, sculptures, theatrical props, accessories and memorabilia. The majority are kept in museum storage, and put on display when required for exhibitions.
Click on this link to find out more about the RSC collections.
As part of the original plan for the 1879 Memorial Theatre, a Library and Picture Gallery wing was included to give visitors a place to learn about and be inspired by Shakespeare. In 1926 when the main building burned down this wing survived. It stands beside the replacement theatre and was built into the design of the Swan Theatre when it opened in 1986. The new Royal Shakespeare Theatre includes a temporary exhibition space for use in addition to the original gallery space.
The library and a huge archive of photographs and documents from our productions and RSC history between 1875 and the present day is now held by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and is available for research. To find out more about ongoing activity around the collections follow the "Finding Shakespeare" blog.