50th Birthday
Since the Royal Shakespeare Company first opened its doors in 1961 it has been inviting Britain's most influential theatre-makers to do their best work with the company.
During those five decades, the RSC has produced plays by over 200 living writers alongside Shakespeare's work, with the classical and contemporary influencing each other every step of the way.
During 2011 the RSC celebrated Shakespeare's role as the catalyst and provocateur of British theatre by opening up its back catalogue of landmark plays with a series of special events. Take a look at our online exhibition of props, costume and posters from the last 50 years' productions.