Summer Activities

Summer Activities

Join us this summer for family fun for all ages, including workshops, shows and activities.

Our Summer activities for families run until September and offer a range of sessions for children and young people aged five to 14 to enjoy. This year's programme will include trails and experiences inspired by Shakespeare's imagined Italy in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, with events and workshops for children and their grown-ups.

Keep an eye on this page for updates and details of how to book.

Two Gentlemen of Verona Summer Trail

Play your way through the Swan Gardens and all the way to Shakespeare's imagined Italy with our sculptural outdoor trail, an RSC Commission by Lisa Made It. Our new trail invites you to explore the RSC's outside spaces from the RSC building to The Other Place, to discover Shakespeare's imagined Italy in our summer family play, The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

18 July - 13 September
Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Swan Gardens
10am - 5pm, Tuesday - Saturday

Free, no booking required.

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The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Shakespeare’s gloriously silly story of love, friendship and growing up bursts onto the stage of The Other Place in a new 80-minute edit that’s the perfect introduction to Shakespeare for families.

The Other Place
Stratford-upon-Avon
4 - 31 August 2025

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Summer Shakespeare Playday

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To celebrate National Playday, join the RSC for a day of free activities inspired by Shakespeare’s imagined Italy for all the family to enjoy together.

Play your way through our new Summer Trail, join us for outdoor storytelling, discover the hidden stories of our free exhibition The Play's The Thing, or drop in for sensory stay and play.

Wednesday 6 August 2025

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8-11 Summer School

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Develop your acting skills across a week of workshops with RSC actors and directors. Create and rehearse your own versions of Shakespeare monologues and scenes whilst learning acting, speaking and movement techniques from RSC practitioners. At the end of the week there will be a sharing for parents and carers to attend. Open to all young people with an enthusiasm for theatre, performing or creative writing.

Clore Learning Centre
Stratford-upon-Avon
11 August 2025

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11-14 Summer School

18 - 25 Acting Masterclass_2024_Photo by Sara Beaumont _c_ RSC_386220

Develop your acting skills across a week of workshops with RSC Actors and Directors. Create and rehearse your own versions of Shakespeare monologues and scenes whilst learning acting, speaking and movement techniques from RSC practitioners. At the end of the week there will be a sharing for parents and carers to attend. Open to all young people with an enthusiasm for theatre, performing or creative writing.

Clore Learning Centre
Stratford-upon-Avon
11 August 2025

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NEXT GENERATION: TIMON OF ATHENS

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'How goes the world? It wears, sir, as it grows.'

Athens is on the brink of collapse: lavish parties for the few and an oppressive senate for the rest. In the centre of it all sits Timon, surrounded by guests who gladly take all they can get. But as Timon’s credit runs out and the city teeters on the brink, it all comes crashing down.

A collaborative new version of Shakespeare and Middleton’s morality fable by our Next Generation Act Company, made up of young theatre makers from across England recruited through the RSC Associate Schools Programme. This 80 minute version of one of Shakespeare's lesser known plays, is a great introduction for younger audiences.

The Other Place
Stratford-upon-Avon
20 - 21 Aug 2025

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More to do this summer at the RSC

The Play's The Thing

Discover 100 years of theatre making magic. Visit our free, interactive exhibition which includes a First Folio from 1623 and costumes worn by Ian McKellen and Alex Kingston. Find out about the costumes and objects that mean most to the local communities we’ve worked with to choose the exhibits. Open daily from 12 midday – no need to book, just come along.

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Guided Tours

Explore the building on this one-hour tour and hear all about the workings of the theatre with engaging stories of our unique history. Our experienced team of tour guides will lead you on a journey through the building’s public and behind-the-scenes areas, sharing the magic of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

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Theatre Tower

Our theatre tower is open daily, boasting panoramic views of Stratford-upon-Avon. Standing at 32m above street level - or the equivalent of approximately the height of seven double-decker buses stacked on top each other - you can take a trip up to the viewing platform for free.

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