The collection includes costumes spanning the history of the theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, paintings dating from the 19th and 20th Centuries, designs, prints and drawings, sculpture, theatrical props, accessories and memorabilia. The majority have always been kept in storage, and put on temporary display when required for exhibitions.
As part of the original plan for the 1879 Memorial Theatre, a Library and Picture Gallery wing was included to give the interested visitor the opportunity to learn about and be inspired by Shakespeare. In 1926 when the main building was almost completely destroyed by fire this wing survived. It remains alongside the replacement theatre, renamed the RSC Collection when the Swan Theatre opened in 1986. The exhibition space is now closed as the new theatres project begins, and plans are included to incorporate exhibitions in the new building.
The library material and a huge archive of photographs and documents from productions and the RSC history is now held by the Shakespeare Centre Library where they are available for research.
For more information contact:
collection@rsc.org.uk
library@shakespeare.org.uk
