The RSC

The RSC creates world class theatre, made in Stratford-upon-Avon and shared around the world.

We perform plays by Shakespeare and his contemporaries, as well as commissioning a wide range of original work from contemporary writers. Our purpose is to ensure that Shakespeare is for everyone, unlocking the power of his plays and live performance, throughout the UK and across the world.

We believe everybody’s life is enriched by culture and creativity and we: 

• Train generations of the very best theatre makers and nurture the talent of the future
• Reach more than half a million young people and adults each year through our transformative learning programmes
• Create projects with and for communities who have not historically engaged with our work

As a teaching theatre, the RSC is a national centre for performance, teaching, training, learning and research about Shakespeare and theatre arts. Research plays a critical role in our work, from exploring the role of immersive technologies in performance, to engaging a more diverse talent base and understanding how Shakespeare can improve the learning outcomes of children and young people. In 2021, we were the first performing arts organisation to be awarded Independent Research Organisation (IRO) status by UKRI.

In 2023, we completed work on Time to Act, a major research project funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation which evaluated the impact of rehearsal-room approaches to teaching Shakespeare on language development and academic self-concept in children and young people. The findings contribute new insights into the difference that engagement with the arts and cultural education has on young lives.

The RSC and the University of Birmingham have collaborated for many years to provide formal and informal opportunities for knowledge exchange and research about Shakespeare’s work, as well as theatre practice for students, scholars and artists. Recent research-led collaborations include Signing Shakespeare, an innovative research project and a series of practical resources aimed at supported deaf young people in their study and enjoyment of Shakespeare.  

As a major cultural organisation and IRO, we engage with the UK Government, both locally and nationally, seeking ways in which our practice and research can help shape future policy across education and the arts and cultural sector.