From its foundation
from 1963 – 1976, the
company was based at
The Old Vic in THE NATIONAL THEATRE
Waterloo, whereas now
it is based on the South
Bank in Central London.
As well as holding
performances at The
National Theatre, the
company also tours shows
around the UK while also
showing live viewings at
cinema’s.
Olivier Theatre
Named after the original
artistic director Laurence
Olivier. Its design ensures
that the audience's view is
not blocked from any seat,
and that the audience is fully
visible to actors from the
stage's centre.
The current building was
designed
by architects Sir Denys
Lasdun and Peter Softley
and structural
engineers Flint and Niell and
contains three stages,
opened individually
between 1976 and 1977.
The Company remained at
the Old Vic until 1977.
Sir Laurence
Lyttleton Theatre Olivier (1963–1973)
Named after Oliver Dorfman Theatre Sir Peter Hall (1973–1988)
The Temporary Theatre
Lyttleton, the first Named after Lloyd Sir Richard Eyre (1988–
The Temporary Theatre,
boardman of The Dorfman, this stage 1997)
formerly called The
National Theatre. It if the smallest of Sir Trevor Nunn (1997–
Shed, was a 225-seat
has the design of a the three. 2003)
black box theatre which
proscenium arch. Sir Nicholas Hytner (2003–
opened in April 2009 and
2015)
featured new works, it
Rufus Norris (2015–)
closed in May 2016.
 ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
The company was founded in1875
The Royal Shakespeare Company is
and was originally attached to
a major British theatre company
Stratford’s Shakespeare Memorial
based in Stratford Upon Avon,
Theatre (opened in 1879 and
Warwickshire.
destroyed by a fire in 1926).
Artistic Directors The company employees over 1,000
Peter Hall (1960–1968) staff and produces around 20 shows
Trevor Nunn (1968–1978) a year. The RCS plays regularly in
Trevor Nunn and Terry Hands London, Newcastle Upon Tyne and on
(1978–1986) tour around the UK and
Terry Hands (1986–1991) internationally.
Adrian Noble (1991–2003)
Michael Boyd (2003–2012) The theatre was launched on
Gregory Doran (2012– ) 8 May 1986 with a production
The RSC has three permanent theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon: of The Two Noble Kinsmen by
William Shakespeare and John
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, a 1,060 seat theatre with thrust stage (re-opened 24 Fletcher (not published until
November 2010 after Transformation project) 1634 and thought to be
The Swan Theatre, a smaller thrust stage, capacity 461 Shakespeare's last work for
The Other Place, a studio theatre, rehearsal room and development space that the stage). It was directed by
opened in April 2016. Barry Kyle.