The 70th RSC Summer School, held at the Shakespeare Institute and at The Other Place, offers the opportunity to hear from academics, actors, directors and experts as we explore the current productions at the RSC.

This 70th year is a special celebration of the RSC Summer School. It first started in 1948 as an opportunity for teachers to learn about Shakespeare and develop their knowledge. As time has gone on, the event has become available to the general public and remains one of the RSC Education team’s most popular events of the year!

Here are a few little-known facts about its history:

• In 1948 it cost 1s 6d to attend a single lecture. This had risen to 50p by 1977.
• The first Summer School was held at the British Council Centre at Mason Croft and this year it moves again, with some sessions at the newly reopened The Other Place.
• Into the 1980s the Summer School schedule included Church services at Holy Trinity Church every year, on the Sunday.
• A number of Summer School lectures have been published, including a volume of 12 lectures published in 1957 by Hodder & Stoughton and Max Reinhardt which was sold in the Theatre for 20s.
• Every year since it first began the Summer School has offered teachers and members of the public the opportunity to watch RSC productions. Most years this has included chances to submit questions to actors as part of an open forum.

While lots of things have changed since the first Summer School, one thing has not: the events next week promise an exciting opportunity for us to discuss, explore and celebrate Shakespeare together and we couldn’t be more excited about the future!