This summer we open our brand new outdoor theatre, invite audiences into our full rehearsal process for the first time in our history, and celebrate creativity of young people and adults from across the UK.

The Comedy of Errors

Our outdoor production of The Comedy of Errors, directed by Phillip Breen will play in the the Garden Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from Tuesday 13 July to Sunday 26 September 2021.

This will be the first opportunity to watch this production, which was preparing to open in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Spring 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic took hold. 

It also marks the opening of our brand new Lydia & Manfred Gorvy Garden Theatre, a specially constructed outdoor performance space in the Swan Theatre Gardens, flanked by the River Avon and overlooked by the Swan Theatre. 

Henry VI Part One: Open Rehearsal Project

Directors Gregory Doran and Owen Horsley invite our audiences inside the rehearsal process, streamed online for four weeks from 1 to 25 June.

Watch online as each day begins with a Company Warm Up, led by members of the acting company and creative team. See a live rehearsal session from noon, as directors Gregory Doran and Owen Horsley work with the actors to put the show on its feet. Then join the company for a post-rehearsal Green Room Chat, from 6pm, as they reflect back on the day, unwind after rehearsals and answer audience questions about the process.

The Henry VI Part One Open Rehearsal Project culminates in a live streamed final rehearsal room run-through from Stratford-upon-Avon on Wednesday 23 June, available to watch on demand until 25 June.

A Summer of Play & Playmaking

We're hosting a Summer of Reconnection to celebrate the creativity and resilience of our Royal Shakespeare Community of young people, children and adults. It's an opportunity for people of all ages to make and share Shakespeare’s work with friends, within schools and with their local communities.

• Intergenerational Online Playmaking Festival - a week-long online celebration of playmaking from 5 July featuring 20 original digital commissions and 600 young people aged nine to 18 from our Associate Schools network and adults from the Shakespeare Nation community programme
• All Mirth and No Matter - A Response to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing performed by our Next Generation Act young company in the Garden Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
• Annual Summer School for lifelong learners – online from 23 to 27 August with an inspiring mix of sessions
• Free family activities - free pop-up performances, interactive workshops and outdoor performances for families from 26 July to 20 August on the Bancroft Terrace and Garden Theatre

• Costume Day celebrating our costume making heritage on 20 August with free pop-up performances, workshops and family friendly activities across Stratford-upon-Avon

Public Booking for the Henry VI Part One: Open Rehearsal Project, The Comedy of Errors and All Mirth and No Matter is now open. 

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