RST opens its doors one last time before re-opening
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has opened the doors to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST) for the last time, in advance of completion of the Transformation Project later this year.
Around 1,000 people arrived at the RST on Sunday 21 February, including RSC staff, actors who have previously worked with the Company, and members of the public.
The site visit was a chance for RSC staff and acting alumni to familiarise themselves with the new theatre, as well as to find out the latest information on the RST’s transformation, with a presentation from Vikki Heywood, RSC Executive Director, and Michael Boyd, RSC Artistic Director.
Commenting on the site visit, Vikki Heywood said: "Now that the exterior of the building is nearing completion, there is a heightened level of activity within the RST so this was our last chance to host an on-site event.
"The project continues to progress on time and on budget and although there is still a long way to go with the internal works, excitement is building around the project, and staff enjoyed being able to see the progress at first hand.
"It was also a good opportunity for them to ask questions in the context of their new surroundings as we look forward to re-opening the building in November with a series of preview events and activities."
Staff tours were held in the morning, with members of the public arriving in the afternoon, when they were able to take a tour of key areas of the building, including the new auditorium. The event proved to be very popular, with all 450 free tickets allocated for the public being booked within the first half hour of them becoming available.
RSC directors and representatives from the Transformation Project team were positioned throughout the building and on hand to provide information about the RST and answer any queries from members of the public.
Vikki continued: "We were delighted to welcome members of the public and local community onto the site and it was great to see so many familiar faces joining us to find out more about the new theatre, including two people in their 90’s who had attended shows in 1932 when the theatre first opened."
Kenneth Frostick, who is 93, attended the 1932 opening show. He said: "I was exceedingly lucky to attend the first show, and I have been to the theatre and entertained here many times since.
"When Dame Peggy Ashcroft was a member of the cast, a colleague and I would often take supper with her after the show, or join her upstairs in the Dirty Duck with other members of the cast. They were happy days."
Kenneth said of the new RST: "I think the new theatre is remarkable. The first thing that struck me was the remarkable ability of the engineers to part-construct a building within a building, and I can still recognise the original building. "I would like to be able to come to the opening of the new theatre, but it’s in the lap of the gods!"
91-year-old Mary Morgan cycled from her house 12 miles away to visit the 1932 theatre when it was first built. She said: "My husband had a haulage firm and we used to move things for many of the actors, so I got to know a lot of them, including the Redgraves and Sir Peter Hall.
"I think the new theatre is going to be wonderful and I hope I live long enough to be able to come. I have enjoyed hearing about the views from the top of the Tower, which is a replacement for one that was down in the gardens."
The site visit raised £8,062 in donations towards the £8.7m left to raise as part of the Transforming Our Theatres Appeal. There are lots of ways to get involved, including by naming a seat or sponsoring a brick. To find out more, please visit www.rsc.org.uk/appeal
The RST is due to open for a series of preview events and activities in November this year, with the first performances from February 2011. The Swan Theatre is also due to re-open for performances in early 2011.