About this Policy

We use cookies across our website to improve user experience. This page explains: 

  • Who we are.
  • What cookies are.
  • Types of cookies we use.
  • How you can control the use of cookies.
  • Further information and contacting us.
  • How to make a complaint.

Who we are 

The Royal Shakespeare Company (ICO registration Z5023810) is the data controller for any personal information we process.  

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is incorporated under Royal Charter and is a charity registered in England and Wales (Charity Number 212481).  

RSC Enterprise Limited (CRN 2360172) is a private limited company that is a 100% owned subsidiary of The Royal Shakespeare Company that carries out a range of commercial trading activities to generate income for the RSC.  

For this policy “RSC,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to the Royal Shakespeare Company.  

What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files made up of letters and numbers with an expiry date, stored in your browser on your computer or mobile device. They are created when your browser loads a website, which sends information to the browser to generate the cookie. Each time you revisit the website, your browser retrieves and sends the cookie back to the website's server, and when the cookie expires, it is automatically discarded. 

Cookies record details about your internet activity, such as whether you have visited our website before, and store this information on your device (e.g., computer, tablet, or phone). The cookies we use do not collect personally identifiable information, and we only share anonymised, aggregated usage data with third parties. 

Persistent cookies remain on your device after you close your browser, allowing your settings and preferences to be remembered for future visits. You can delete these cookies at any time through your browser settings. Cookies sent from our website only relate to its use and have no other effect on your device. 
 

The types of cookies we use 

We collect four types of cookies. Below, we explain what these are, what they do, and how long we store them for – this can vary from a session to set of minutes, hours, or days. A session starts when you launch a website and ends when you leave it or close your browser window. 

Strictly necessary cookies 

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in, or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information. 

 

Cookie

Purpose

Duration

__RequestVerificationToken

Helps protect against cross-site request forgery attacks by ensuring that requests made to the site are legitimate and not malicious.

Session

_dc_gtm_UA-xxxxxxxx

Helps Google Tag Manager load other scripts and code on the webpage.

Session

_dc_gtm_UA-xxxxxxxx

Helps Google Tag Manager load other scripts and code on the webpage.

Session

ai_session

 

Session

ai_user

Tracks user activity for Microsoft Application Insights, which collects usage data for apps on Azure. It helps count unique users over time

1 year

ARRAffinity

Used to ensure that the user is consistently directed to the same server during a session.

Session

ARRAffinitySameSite

Ensures the user is directed to the same server during a session and limits cross-site request handling.

Session

ASP.NET_SessionId

Maintains user session data across pages during a browsing session.

Session

character-nudge

Helps manage the display of character-based notifications on the website.

1 month

incap_ses_xxx

Used by Incapsula to maintain the security of the website and ensure sessions are valid.

Session

nlbi_#######

Used by Incapsula to identify a user session for load balancing and security.

Session

nlbi_3158568_2147483392

Helps identify the user's session and load balancing for performance.

Session

OptanonAlertBoxClosed

Remembers if a user has seen and closed the cookie notice, preventing it from showing again for up to a year.

1 year

OptanonConsent

Stores the user's consent preferences for the use of cookies.

1 year

QueueITAccepted-SDFrts345E-V3_safetynetwaitingroom

Used to manage and track the user’s session in a virtual waiting room during high traffic periods.

Session

reese84

Used for security purposes to track and verify user sessions.

1 month

RoyalShakespeareSession

Stores session data specific to the user’s session for the website’s functionality

Session

sf-trckngckie

Tracks session information for analytical and operational purposes.

5 months

TNEW

Used to store session information and preferences for the current session.

Session

visid_incap_

Used by Incapsula to identify visitors for security and session management.

1 year


Performance cookies 

These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to monitor its performance.  


Performance cookies play a vital role in helping us fulfil our charitable objectives. They enable us to gather the insights needed to apply for funding, sustain the activities we excel at, and continually improve our website. By collecting and reporting information on how you use our site, these cookies provide valuable insights into user behaviour and actions. This understanding helps us identify patterns and preferences, enabling us to make data-driven decisions that enhance the website's functionality and effectiveness. 

We use Google Analytics to collect information about how visitors use our website. We use this information to report to our funders and to analyse website usage so that we can improve user experience. Google Analytics collects information such as the number of site visitors, which pages they visited, how they came to the site and their location. You can find out more about privacy at Google and opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites.  

 

Cookie

Description

Duration

_ga

Used to distinguish users and track user interactions for analytics purposes.

1 year

_ga_xxxxxxxxxx

Used to distinguish users and track user interactions on the website for analytical purposes.

1 year

_gclxxxx

Used to track and measure the effectiveness of Google Ads and store conversion data.

2 months

_gid

Used to distinguish users and store data on user interactions with the website for statistical analysis.

Session

 

Functional cookies 

These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all these services may not function properly. 

 

Cookie

Description

Duration

__cf_bm

Used by Cloudflare to manage and improve website performance and security by identifying bot traffic. This cookie is owned by Cloudflare.

Session

__Host-1PLSID

Used to store login session data and preferences across different devices for user convenience. This cookie is owned by Google.

2 months

__Host-3PLSID

Used to store login session data and preferences for users across multiple devices. This cookie is owned by Google.

2 months

__Host-GAPS

Used to store authentication tokens for a more secure and consistent user experience across sessions. This cookie is owned by Google.

9 months

_cfuvid

Used by Cloudflare to track user activity and enhance website functionality. This cookie is owned by Cloudflare.

Session

ACCOUNT_CHOOSER

Used to store the user’s preferred account selection for easier login and access. This cookie is owned by Google.

Session

cf_clearance

Used by Cloudflare to ensure secure access and allow users to bypass security challenges after clearing a verification step. This cookie is owned by Cloudflare.

1 year

LSID

Used to store session information related to the user’s login state for website functionality. This cookie is owned by Google.

2 months

OTZ

Used by Google to track user preferences and display relevant ads. This cookie is owned by Google.

Session


Targeting cookies 

These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Opting out of these cookies needs to be done via the third party and does not mean you will not see advertising when you are online, but it will mean that any advertising you see will not be tailored to you. You can manage the third-party cookies easily by visiting optout.networkadvertising.org  

On occasion we work with third parties to advertise through third party platforms, such as social media advertising activity. For data analytics and targeted advertising, the third party will be given access to website usage data including IP address, purchase value, and pages viewed. 

 

Cookie

Description

Duration

_fbp

Used by Facebook to deliver targeted advertising and track user interactions across websites. This cookie is owned by Facebook.

1 year

__qca

Used by Quantcast to track user activity and gather data for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Quantcast.

2 months

_gat_UA-nnnnnnn-nn

Used by Google Analytics to throttle request rates and manage data collection on websites for analytics purposes. This cookie is owned by Google.

Session

__Secure-1PAPISID

Used by Google to track users across various websites and profile their interests for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

2 months

__Secure-1PSID

Used by Google to track users across various websites and profile their interests for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

2 months

__Secure-1PSIDCC

Used by Google to track users across various websites and profile their interests for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

1 months

__Secure-3PAPISID

Used by Google to track users across various websites and profile their interests for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

2 months

__Secure-3PSID

Used by Google to track users across various websites and profile their interests for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

2 months

__Secure-3PSIDCC

Used by Google to track users across various websites and profile their interests for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

1 month

__Secure-ENID

Used by Google to track users across various websites and profile their interests for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

1 year

__Secure-ROLLOUT_TOKEN

Used by YouTube (Google) to track user data for targeted advertising across a broad range of websites. This cookie is owned by Google.

5 months

AFFICHE_W

Used by Weborama, a French online advertising business, for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Weborama.

1 year

APISID

Used by Google to track users across various websites and profile their interests for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

2 months

ar_debug

Used by DoubleClick (Google) for real-time bidding in advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

1 month

CMID

Used by Casale Media for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Casale Media.

1 year

CMPRO

Used by Casale Media for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Casale Media.

2 months

CMPS

Used by Casale Media for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Casale Media.

2 months

data-rk

Used by Media.net, a global online advertising technology network. This cookie is owned by Media.net.

1 year

demdex

Used by Adobe Audience Manager for visitor identification, segmentation, and targeted marketing. This cookie is owned by Adobe.

5 months

dpm

Used by Adobe Audience Manager for targeted marketing and profiling. This cookie is owned by Adobe.

5 months

eud

Used by Rocketfuel for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Rocketfuel.

1 year

euds

Used by Rocketfuel for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Rocketfuel.

Session

everest_g_v2

Used by Adobe for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Adobe.

1 year

HSID

Used by Google in combination with SID to verify Google user accounts and track login times. This cookie is owned by Google.

2 months

IDE

Used by DoubleClick (Google) for real-time bidding in advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

1 year

mc

Used by Quantcast for market segmentation and targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Quantcast.

1 year

NID

Used by Google to track users across various websites and profile their interests for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

Session

pxrc

Used by Live Ramp Inc. for targeted marketing and profiling. This cookie is owned by Live Ramp Inc.

1 month

receive-cookie-deprecation

Used by DoubleClick (Google) for real-time bidding in advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

5 months

receive-cookie-deprecation

Used by AppNexus Inc. for online advertising technology and services. This cookie is owned by AppNexus Inc.

1 year

rlas3

Used by Live Ramp Inc. for targeted marketing and profiling. This cookie is owned by Live Ramp Inc.

1 year

rud

Used by Rocketfuel for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Rocketfuel.

1 year

ruds

Used by Rocketfuel for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Rocketfuel.

Session

SAPISID

Used by Google to track users across various websites and profile their interests for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

2 months

sd-session-id

Used to store session-specific data for tracking user activities.

5 months

SERVERID

Used by Eyeota for audience data and targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Eyeota.

Session

SID

Used by Google in combination with HSID to verify Google user accounts and track login times. This cookie is owned by Google.

2 months

SIDCC

Used by Google to track users across various websites and profile their interests for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

1 month

SSID

Used by Google to track users across various websites and profile their interests for targeted advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

2 months

test_cookie

Used by DoubleClick (Google) for real-time bidding in advertising. This cookie is owned by Google.

Session

VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE

Used by YouTube (Google) to track video views and user interactions. This cookie is owned by Google.

5 months

VISITOR_PRIVACY_METADATA

Used by YouTube (Google) to collect user data from videos and display targeted ads across websites. This cookie is owned by Google.

5 months

visitor-id

Used by Media.net for targeted marketing and profiling. This cookie is owned by Media.net.

1 year

YSC

Used by YouTube (Google) to track user data from video interactions and display targeted ads across websites. This cookie is owned by Google.

Session

zync-uuid

Used by Rezync.com for online advertising technologies and services. This cookie is owned by Rezync.com.

5 months


Third party cookies 

Our website includes links to other sites (such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Threads, X, and YouTube). These third-party sites may set cookies on your device when you interact with their content on our site. We do not control these cookies and recommend you review the cookie policies of each third-party site for details on how they use cookies. 

How you can control the use of cookies from our website 

When you visit our website 

If you prefer not to opt in to certain types of cookies, you can adjust your preferences using our cookie consent tool when you first visit our website. Your choices will be recorded and stored for up to one year. 

When you first visit our website, you are presented with a pop-up, which gives you the following options: 

  • Accept All Cookies – this applies all cookies.

  • Cookie Settings – allows you to turn different types of cookies on or off. 

  • Reject All – only strictly necessary cookies will be applied. 

If you click on the cross, only strictly necessary cookies will be applied.  

 

Using browser settings  

You can block cookies by changing settings in your browser. Bear in mind that if you block cookies then our website, and other sites you visit, may no longer work for you as intended. 

Changes that you make to browser settings will only apply to that browser; if you use multiple browsers (e.g., Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari) and wish to opt out of cookies then you will need to change settings in each browser that you use.  

Changes to browser settings will only take effect on the device on which you make those changes unless your browsers are set up to share your settings across different devices. If your browsers are not set up in this way and you want to opt out of cookies then you will need to change the settings of each browser on each device that you use. 

If you delete all cookies, then all site preferences stored on your device will be deleted. This means that if you opt out from cookies for a given site and then delete all cookies, your opt-out will not be saved and you will need to opt out again (which will store a strictly necessary cookie so that your device can remember that you have opted out). 

Below are links to instructions for opting out of cookies for some of the most popular browsers: 

Firefox 

Google Chrome 

Microsoft Edge  

Safari 

Unfortunately, we cannot help with issues caused by changes to your device settings. If you have problems, try resetting your browser settings and clearing your cache for our site. 

Further information and contacting us 

You can find out more about cookies at allaboutcookies.org and individual cookies on www.cookiepedia.co.uk 

The ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) provides more information on cookies, including how to see what cookies have been stored and how to manage and delete them. 

To request information about yourself or to find out more about our privacy, data protection and records retention measures, please write to: Data Protection, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6BB. 

Email: dataprotection@rsc.org.uk. Specify in your communication the exact nature of the information you wish to request. 

How to make a complaint 

If you are unhappy with how we are processing your personal data and take the view that we are not complying with UK GDPR, you have the right to complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).  

Visit: https://ico.org.uk/concerns/   

Write to: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. 

Phone: 0303 123 1113 

Changes to this policy 

We may change or update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Any changes will be immediately posted on the website, and you are deemed to have accepted the terms of the Cookie Policy on your first use of the website following the alterations. 

Last updated July 2025  

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