THE RSC has established itself as one of the best-known theatre companies in the world. It is built around a core of associate artists--actors, directors and designers--with the aim that their different talents should combine, over the years, to produce a distinctive approach to both classical and modern plays.
The Company was formed in 1960 under the leadership of Peter Hall at Stratford-upon-Avon. Later that year it also acquired the Aldwych Theatre as the London end of its operation.
Audiences in London could now see the same actors in the Stratford Shakespeare productions, contemporary plays and classics--a range of work which expanded in 1974 with the opening in Stratford of a second, smaller auditorium, The Other Place. Its London counterpart, The Warehouse, followed in 1977 and staged new British plays.
Much of this expansion was masterminded by Trevor Nunn who took over as artistic director in 1968. He was joined 10 years later by Terry Hands and as Joint Artistic Directors they widened the range and scope of RSC activities to include more national and international tours, films, television productions, West End and Broadway transfers.
In 1982, the year of its 21st birthday, the RSC undertook the most exciting development of its history--the move from the Aldwych and The Warehouse to the Barbican Centre in the historic City of London.
In the 1,160-seat Barbican Theatre the RSC continues to present new plays, and classics of the last century, alongside its Shakespeare work. The RSC's other theatre at the Barbican is The Pit, a studio space, successor to the Warehouse, which has flexible seating for around 200.
In 1986 the RSC opened a new Stratford theatre--the Swan Theatre--dedicated to the once-popular but now rarely seen plays of Shakespeare's contemporaries. The Swan has been made possible by the gift of the RSC's benefactor Frederick R. Koch. The Swan's London counterpart is the Mermaid Theatre close by the Barbican Centre. There, the RSC is staging the Swan repertoire and a season of American plays presented by Frank and Woji Gero and Playhouse Productions.
In 1987 Terry Hands became sole Artistic Director and Chief Executive
of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
--From Playbill magazine
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