Our purpose is to ensure that Shakespeare is for everyone. Our Plan describes our long-term vision, mission and objectives and the strategies we will use to deliver these.
Our vision:
- For Shakespeare’s plays to be enjoyed by a truly diverse audience, representative of the population of the UK and beyond.
- To foster a culture which is confident that Shakespeare is relevant and resonant and a society which recognises that we are all richer if everyone has access to great theatre.
Our mission:
- To inspire and captivate audiences and transform lives through amazing experiences of Shakespeare's plays and of great theatre.
- Relevant, resonant and accessible, made in Stratford-upon-Avon, shared across the UK and around the world.
Our objectives:
- To inspire and captivate audiences through amazing and enduring experiences of Shakespeare's plays.
- To transform lives through vivid first encounters with Shakespeare and theatre.
- To set Shakespeare within a compelling programme of classic theatre and new plays, events, exhibitions and opportunities to take part.
- To make these experiences in our home in Stratford-upon-Avon and share them across the UK and around the world.
- To generate income to support our charitable objectives and to be both financially and organisationally resilient.
In 2017, we reached a significant landmark, as we achieved the halfway point in our journey through the entire canon of Shakespeare's plays, begun in October 2013 with David Tennant in Richard II.
Over the next five years, we will be completing the canon, including filmed broadcasts of each play, and working towards 2023 when we will stage a major global celebration of the 400th anniversary of the First Folio of Shakespeare’s works, published in 1623. This journey provides us with a clear direction of travel and is a robust and coherent spine around which we can plan with greater ease and efficiency.
Our Plan for 2018-2022 has eight strategies for people and places, describing what we will do, who we will work with and reach, and how we will prioritise and take decisions:
- Stratford Strategy
To make an irresistible programme of theatre, events and exhibitions celebrating Stratford’s unique role in the story of Shakespeare, and creating a welcoming, accessible, world-class visitor attraction and a compelling learning destination
- National Engagement Strategy
To work in partnership across the nation to create life-long relationships with Shakespeare and theatre by touring, co-creating opportunities to participate, building capacity, developing audiences and nurturing talent
- London Strategy
To have an effective base in the theatre capital of the world, including venue partners and fit-for-purpose office and rehearsal facilities, to reach new audiences, nurture our brand, influence policy and increase income
- International Strategy
To enhance the global artistic reputation and the long-term sustainability of the RSC by sharing our productions and practice
- Education Strategy
To transform the lives of children, young people, their teachers and communities through vivid first encounters with Shakespeare’s work
- Digital Strategy
To place the craft of theatre making in new, digital contexts, to create new theatrical experiences and reach audiences in new ways
- Artists Strategy
To play a unique role in training and inspiring the next generation of diverse theatre-makers to respond to Shakespeare’s plays and spirit
- Organisational Resilience Strategy
To be a thriving, adaptive, efficient organisation with the structures, strategic framework, compliance, business intelligence, and environment to enable us to make the most of opportunities and minimise threats
These are supported by a range of organisation-wide plans, including our:
- Artistic Plan
- Touring Plan
- Audience Plan
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan
- Environmental Sustainability Policy and Action Plan
- Digital Plan
We are committed to a culture of respect. We strive for excellence and value integrity, inclusion, ambition and innovation. We act with respect, show leadership and build resilient ways of working in all our activities. We aim to create a welcoming, supportive environment which is happy, healthy and safe.