Your Safety

As we reopen the Royal Shakespeare Theatre this autumn, here's what you need to know about how we're keeping you safe during your visit.

We clean and sanitise all areas of our buildings and facilities thoroughly before, during and after every performance or event. The auditorium seating is fogged twice weekly with disinfectant spray.

Whilst our fresh air handling system will maintain an ambient temperature inside the theatre, we will keep the foyers and other front of house areas naturally well ventilated so they may feel much colder than usual.

Before you come

If you have any Covid-19 symptoms (high temperature, new persistent cough, loss of taste or smell) or have been advised to isolate, then don't attend in person.
Let us know when you book if you have any access requirements. We'll make sure that those with disabilities have seating appropriate for their needs.
Our cloakroom is closed, for the safety of both visitors and staff. You need to keep coats and personal belongings with you so please only bring a small bag.

Arriving

Enter the Royal Shakespeare Theatre building through the main front doors, and you will be directed towards your seating area. The bars will be open from one hour before the performance. You can use the toilets and collect drinks before taking your seat in the theatre.

Bag checks

Please keep personal items to an absolute minimum. Coats, bags and personal belongings will need to stay with you as the cloakroom won't be open, so please only bring a small bag. Large bags won't be allowed into the theatre.

A member of staff will carry out a contactless bag check outside before you enter the building. They might ask you to remove items from your bag to assist with this. Large bags won't be allowed into the theatre.

Hand sanitising

There are hand sanitiser stations in prominent, convenient positions throughout our building.

There are plenty of toilets available, all with hot water, soap and paper towels or hand dryers.

Face coverings

Whilst it is no longer mandatory, we will continue to ask all visitors to wear a face covering whilst inside the building. All staff will wear a face covering, unless exempt.

Social distancing

Whilst most performances in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre will be at full capacity, we will endeavour to manage social distancing in all other areas where possible. We greatly appreciate your support with this. There will be queueing systems in place at sales points and toilets.

Food and drink

To help minimise queuing, you can order drinks online before or on the day of the performance. We’ll email you a unique pre-ordering link ahead of your visit, where you can select your items and choose when you want to collect them. We send the link to the person who booked the tickets for your group, so they need to be the one to place the order for your group.

Our bars will be open one hour before the performance and closed after the interval. We encourage you to eat or drink when seated, in either the bar or auditorium.

Tickets

We are now only offering e-tickets, which you can either print out or show on a mobile device when you arrive. Tickets cannot be held at the Box Office for collection. If you can't print or access your e-ticket please contact tickets@rsc.org.uk

After the performance

You will be directed out using all available exits. There won’t be any opportunity to meet the actors after the show at Stage Door.

Socially distanced performances

On seven Tuesday evenings, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre will run at reduced capacity, with audiences seated with an empty row in front of and behind them and with one empty seat between parties to ensure 1m+ social distancing. We will ask you to wear a mask, unless exempt, throughout your visit.

The socially distanced performances take place on the following Tuesdays at 7.15pm:

2, 9, 16 and 23 November
7, 21 and 28 December

Tickets are only bookable by phone from the Box Office, on 01789 331111.

IN AN EMERGENCY

We will do all that we can to ensure that you are safe and that your enjoyment of the experience is not interrupted. In the event of an emergency, we will ensure we avoid clustering at exits and outside our buildings.