On Saturday 22 April 2023, just in time for Shakespeare’s Birthday, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) will reopen its permanent exhibition, The Play’s The Thing, in its Stratford-upon-Avon home.
Made up of items including costumes and props from the RSC’s vast Collection, this is a permanent exhibition offering unique insights into the history of theatre-making in Stratford-upon-Avon since 1879.
As part of the re-opening the RSC has co-curated the display with a number of Stratford-based community organisations, including Welcome Here!, Goodwill and Growth for Africa (GAGA) Yarnbombers, and second-year fashion students at Stratford-upon-Avon College, made possible by ArtFund support, the national charity for art. The groups have shaped the exhibition by choosing which items they would like to see in it.
The Play’s The Thing is located in the Swan Theatre end of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre’s buildings. Entrance will be free, and the exhibition will be open from 12noon daily, closing at 7.15pm (5pm on Sundays). No advance booking required.
Started by Charles Edward Flower in 1879, the RSC Collection is one of the most significant Shakespeare and theatre collections in the world. The Collection material spans from the 1600s to the present day and offers an insight into the history of performance, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
