8-3RSC

 WHAT IS THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY? WHAT IS ITS HISTORY AND ITS MISSION? Written by Claire Inda

The Royal Shakespeare Company is probably the most famous classical theatre company in the world. They have put on many of Shakespeare’s works. Currently they are working on //As You// //Like It, The Winters Tale// and //Julius Caesar.// The Company is a tribute to the relevancy of Shakespeare in the theater of today. The Royal Shakespeare Company has a very long history! The Theater that originally housed the Company was built as the Shakespeare Memorial Theater in 1879 and was granted a Royal Charter in 1925. The next year it was destroyed by fire. A new theater was erected in 1932 and for the next thirty years honed its reputation of excellence as a venue for the great classical works. It was renamed the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1961 and started to add modern works to its repertoire. Famous actors and directors have been members of the Company, a tradition that continues to this day. The Company’s stated mission is to “keep modern audiences in touch with Shakespeare as our contemporary.” The Company is creating a new home in Stratford-upon-Avon which is due to be completed in 2010. The Company has family events, talks and tours ongoing; it is truly fulfilling its mission to keep Shakespeare alive in modern times.  