ACCESS MATTERS Welcome to our Winter 2017 Access Matters, where you can find out about our access provision and our forthcoming assisted performances. Old stories are so often the ones we return to again and again to make sense of the world around us. As our Rome collection of plays continues into autumn, we see how Shakespeare, his contemporaries and modern writers also seek inspiration in history and myth to fuel stories that still resonate in 2017. Rome Season Director, Angus Jackson, returns to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre with the last of Shakespeare’s Roman plays, . Sope Dirisu – a rising talent who originally emerged through our very own Open Stages programme – is an exciting Coriolanus. Another new voice emerges in the Swan Theatre: Kimberley Sykes, Associate Director on our Dream 16 tour makes her RSC directorial debut with Christopher Marlowe’s tragedy, Dido, Queen of Carthage. Our Swan Theatre season continues with a new adaptation of ’ epic Cicero trilogy by Mike Poulton (/Bring Up the Bodies).

This thrilling political saga tells the story of the rise Communications Design by RSC Visual and fall of the great Roman orator, Cicero. Ovid was Shakespeare’s favourite poet and references to these classical stories litter his plays. We have lost our cultural familiarity with many of these and I feel passionate about reigniting our understanding of these wonderful fables. Over three weeks, eight events will explore Ovid’s stories from many angles. New voices resound around The Other Place once again with two Mischief Festivals. The first, in May, sees the return to the RSC of writer Tom Morton-Smith (Oppenheimer, 2015) and the co-writing debut of Matt Hartley and Kirsty Housley with a double bill of provocative short plays. We round off 2017 with two Royal Shakespeare Theatre productions which are proof of our claim to be theatre at its best. One of our greatest living writers, , reasserts the social conscience of the ultimate story of redemption: ’ A Christmas Carol, directed by Rachel Kavanaugh (Half A Sixpence, 2016). Meanwhile, Christopher Luscombe (Love’s Labour’s Lost and , 2014 & 2016) brings his dazzling energy to Twelfth Night. It’s the perfect end to your year. Artistic Director The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and THE KOVNER FOUNDATION The work of the RSC Literary Department is generously supported by THE DRUE HEINZ TRUST www.rsc.org.uk/access 01789 403436 September 2017 – February 2018 Stratford-upon-Avon Coriolanus Royal Shakespeare Theatre 15 September – 14 October 2017 A full-throttle war play that revels in the sweat of the battlefield, Coriolanus transports us back to the emergence of the republic of Rome. Caius Martius Coriolanus is a fearless soldier but a reluctant leader. His ambitious mother attempts to carve him a path to political power, but he struggles to change his nature and do what is required to achieve greatness. www.javiermarin.com.mx In this new city state struggling to find WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE its feet, where the gap between rich and poor is widening every day, Coriolanus must decide who he really is and where Sculpture by Javier Marín his allegiances lie. Audio Described Performances Rome Season Director, Angus Jackson, Wednesday 4 October, 7.15pm completes our collection of Shakespeare’s Touch Tour, 5pm Roman plays with a visceral production Saturday 14 October, 1.15pm Touch Tour, 11am which sees Sope Dirisu (One Night in Miami, , 2016) take Captioned Performance Friday 13 October, 7.15pm CAP on the title role.

2 www.rsc.org.uk/assisted-performances Twelfth Night William Shakespeare WILLIAM Royal Shakespeare Theatre SHAKESPEARE 2 November 2017 – 24 February 2018 ‘I am all the daughters of my father’s house, And all the brothers too.’ Twelfth Night is a tale of unrequited love – hilarious and heartbreaking. Twins are separated in a shipwreck, and forced to fend for themselves in a strange land. The first twin, Viola, falls in love with Orsino, who dotes on OIivia, who falls for Viola but is idolised by Malvolio. Enter Sebastian, who is the spitting image of his twin sister... Christopher James Tissot The Letter 1876-1878, design by RSC Visual Communications The Letter 1876-1878, design by RSC Visual Tissot James Luscombe, director of the ‘glorious’ Audio Described Performances (Daily Telegraph) Love’s Labour’s Lost Friday 26 January, 7.15pm and Much Ado About Nothing (2014 & Touch Tour, 5pm 2016), returns to tackle Shakespeare’s Saturday 24 February, 1.15pm greatest comedy, a brilliantly Touch Tour, 11am bittersweet account of ‘the whirligig Captioned Performances of time’. Friday 19 January, 7.15pm CAP Twelfth Night is generously supported by the Thursday 15 February, 1.15pm Twelfth Night Syndicate

01789 403436 3 September 2017 – February 2018 Stratford-upon-Avon A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens A new adaptation by David Edgar Royal Shakespeare Theatre 27 November 2017 - 4 February 2018 A brand new adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic – one of the most loved short stories ever written. In one ghostly Christmas night, cold-hearted businessman Ebenezer Scrooge learns to pity himself and to love his neighbour – CHARLES DICKENS but is that enough? A NEW ADAPTATION BY DAVID EDGAR A festive tale of redemption and compassion. David Edgar is one of our greatest living writers. His rich history with the RSC stretches from Destiny Communications Design by RSC Visual Audio Described Performances in 1976 through the multi-award- Friday 12 January, 7.15pm winning adaptation of Dickens’ Nicholas Touch Tour, 5pm Nickleby, to Written on the Heart Sunday 4 February, 2pm (2011). Now he returns to Dickens to Touch Tour, 11.45am rediscover the social conscience of this Captioned Performances timeless tale. Rachel Kavanaugh (Alice Thursday 4 January, 1.15pm CAP in Wonderland, 2001; The Merry Wives Wednesday 24 January, 7.15pm of Windsor, 2003) directs, fresh from Semi-integrated BSL stunning the West End with her award- interpreted performance winning production of Half A Sixpence. Wednesday 17 January, 7.15pm Suitable for ages 7 and over. Relaxed Performance Thursday 1 February, 1.15pm 4 www.rsc.org.uk/assisted-performances Dido, Queen of Carthage Christopher Marlowe Swan Theatre 15 September - 28 October 2017 Aeneas is a refugee in exile, fleeing a war-torn Troy and seeking new roots in Europe. Shipwrecked in Carthage, the meddling gods intervene; they fill Queen Dido with all-consuming love for Aeneas. In Marlowe’s unsettling tale of sacrifice, the lovers must decide whether to follow their hearts or fulfil their political destinies. Dido, overwhelmed with passion, is propelled to her terrifying final act. Director Kimberley Sykes (Associate Director, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Sculpture: Paige Bradley. Photo: Anne Vinogradoff Photo: Sculpture: Paige Bradley. tour, 2016) delves into Marlowe’s Audio Described Performances darkly humorous politics of identity and Saturday 7 October, 1.30pm happiness, creating an urgent world Touch Tour, 11.15am where gods meet man, East meets Thursday 26 October, 7.30pm West, sea meets land and fate hangs Touch Tour, 5.15pm by an unforgiving thread. Captioned Peformance Friday 20 October, 7.30pm CAP Semi-integrated BSL interpreted performance Tuesday 17 October, 7.30pm with interpreted post show talk back

01789 403436 5 September 2017 – February 2018 Stratford-upon-Avon : The Cicero Plays Based on the Cicero Trilogy by Robert Harris Adapted by Mike Poulton Swan Theatre 16 November 2017 – 10 February 2018 Following his stunning RSC adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies (2013/14) Mike Poulton turns his pen to the thrilling world of Ancient Rome with a brand new version of Robert Harris’ best-selling Cicero novels. This epic event will be staged as six plays, presented in two performances, each with two intervals, and will be directed by RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran.

THE CICERO PLAYS

BASED ON THE CICERO TRILOGY BY ROBERT HARRIS ADAPTED BY MIKE POULTON Design by RSC Visual Communications Design by RSC Visual

6 www.rsc.org.uk/assisted-performances Part I: Conspirator Part II: Dictator Cicero is elected consul by a unanimous Cicero has retired from politics. vote of the Roman people. Catiline, – dictator, and his aristocratic rival, is furious in defeat commander of Rome’s armies – is and refuses to accept the results of the assassinated. Cicero sees his death as election. He swears a blood oath to an opportunity to restore the Republic destroy Cicero, murder the government, but the assassins, Brutus and Cassius, and take Rome by force. Behind the dither as power in Rome begins to fall conspiracy, Cicero suspects, lurks into the lap of Mark Antony. Julius Caesar – young, ruthless, popular Determined to prevent Antony imposing with the Roman mob and greedy for a military dictatorship on Rome, Cicero absolute power. forms an unlikely alliance with the As law and order begins to break down, 19-year-old great-nephew and heir of who controls the mob controls Rome: Julius Caesar. Confident that he can Cicero, Catiline, Caesar or the charming control the boy and use him to destroy but vicious playboy, Publius Clodius? Mark Antony, Cicero sets out to save the Republic. Audio Described Performances Audio Described Performances Tuesday 16 January, 7pm Wednesday 17 January, 1pm Touch Tour, 4.45pm Touch Tour, 10.45am Saturday 10 February, 1pm Saturday 10 February, 7pm Touch Tour, 10.45am Touch Tour, 4.45pm Captioned Performances Captioned Performances Wednesday 10 January, 1pm CAP Wednesday 10 January, 7pm CAP Monday 29 January, 7pm Tuesdsay 6 February, 7pm

The Wondrous Imagination of Ovid the Storyteller 8 – 28 October 2017 We celebrate the wonderful tales of one of Shakespeare’s greatest inspirations with eight events across three weeks, from storytelling to readings from RSC Actors. Find out more at www.rsc.org.uk/ovid

01789 403436 7 Stratford-upon-Avon The Studio Theatre – Mischief Festivals 2017 The Other Place 24 May - 17 June 2017 THE STUDIO THEATRE Our creative engine room, The Other Place, continues to nurture the development of new voices at the FESTIVALS 2017 RSC. The building is always buzzing AT THE OTHER PLACE with rehearsals, costume hire, education work and artistic conversations. The Earthworks and Myth are presented as a double bill.

The Earthworks Myth Tom Morton-Smith Matt Hartley and Kirsty Housley Directed by Erica Whyman From an original idea by On the eve of the activation of the Large Kirsty Housley Hadron Collider, two strangers – a Directed by Kirsty Housley journalist and a scientist – share their In one wine-fuelled evening, two couples experiences of loss and hope in a funny debate their materialistic lifestyle. but deeply touching one-act play. As their dinner party descends into Tom Morton-Smith’s Oppenheimer, chaos, their friendship and their lives created for the RSC in 2014, was a are irreparably changed. A theatrical smash hit, transferring to the West End. experiment into those things we don’t want to see or say.

Audio Described Performance Wednesday 7 June, 1.30pm Semi-integrated BSL Touch Tour 11.15am interpreted performance Captioned Performances CAP Tuesday 13 June, 7.30pm Friday 16 June, 7.30pm with interpreted post show talk back

8 www.rsc.org.uk/assisted-performances Josefa MacKinnon, RSC Assisted Performances Coordinator

Tell us about yourself and your role at the RSC? My job title is Assisted Performances Coordinator. I’ve been in the role since October 2016. It is a new position within the RSC, so I’m really looking forward to exploring the potential of what we can expand on. I look after anything related to our assisted performances. For example, in any week I could be arranging Touch Tours, looking at seating plans for a Captioned performance, liaising with freelancers or suggesting adaptations to make for Relaxed performances. I’m also trying to develop a personal relationship with our audience members. I’m going out to meet groups, getting feedback and finding out what we can do to continue offering the best service we can. I think listening to what people have to say will enable even more people to enjoy our performances. Why is access in theatre important to you? I’m sure if we all thought about it carefully, we’d all know someone who has required some assistance at some point in their lives. A grandparent with dementia? A boy in your son’s class who has autism? Your partner recovering from a knee operation? I’ve had a variety of battles over the years with access in theatres. As a teenager I spent most of my education and free time working on productions with school, local theatre groups, college and University. Henderson Photo by Verity Both of my parents were born Deaf. All I could give them was a copy of my script for them to read in a With just a little more thought, open-mindedness and dark auditorium. More often than not they’d fall creative adaptation we are all in a position to make it asleep as they couldn’t follow the story! My easier for people to leave their homes and enjoy a grandfather also started to lose his hearing as he got night out with family and friends. That’s something older and also started to fall asleep watching my you can’t put a price on. shows. It was hard not to take this personally. What is your favourite aspect of your job? Just before Audio Description had really taken off, I love the fact that my job is so varied, one day is I visited the theatre with a friend who has visual completely different from the next. Also, as I go on impairments and described the show to her as it exploring the possibilities for assisted performances, progressed in hushed whispers, to the annoyance of I’m realising that the long term potential of what we people sitting around us. can offer in Stratford-upon-Avon and on tour is One of my closest friends uses a wheelchair and immense. Finally, I love meeting the people who we even nowadays, it infuriates me whenever we go out are assisting. When I hear what our accessibility to the theatre or cinema having to battle over a means to them personally, it really makes my day! number of hurdles just to get into an auditorium, If you could play any Shakespeare character on despite the building being ‘accessible’. the RST stage, who would it be? I think it’s so important to create a culture of assisted I’d happily play any one of Shakespeare’s parts, as performances, even if you don’t use the services, long as it’s not in front of an audience. I tend to make one day someone you love might need them. people fall asleep.

01789 403436 9 London TRH Productions, Scott Landis and Tulchin Bartner Productions William Shakespeare present the RSC production of Queen Anne Barbican 30 June - 18 August 2017 Theatre Royal Haymarket On a distant island a man waits. 30 June - 30 September 2017 Robbed of his position, power and wealth, Following a sold-out season at the his enemies have left him in isolation. Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon But this is no ordinary man, and this no in 2015-16, the critically acclaimed ordinary island... production of Queen Anne transfers to Presented in collaboration with Intel and in association with The Imaginarium Studios the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Romola Garai and Emma Cunniffe Photography by Darren Bell Simon Russell Beale The Imaginarium Studios and RSC Image by Audio Described Performance Wednesday 2 August, 7.30pm Touch Tour, 5.30pm Audio Described Performance (tickets will go on sale shortly) Saturday 29 July, 1.30pm Captioned Performance Touch Tour, 11.30am CAP Wednesday 9 August, 7.30pm Captioned Performance CAP How to Book Friday 11 August, 7.15pm 020 7930 8800 | [email protected] How to Book Find out more about access at the 020 7638 8891 | [email protected] Theatre Royal Haymarket at Find out more about access at the www.trh.co.uk/theatre-info/access-facilities Barbican at www.barbican.org.uk/access 12 020 7930 8800 www.trh.co.uk London Matilda The Musical Cambridge Theatre Booking until December 2017 Matilda The Musical is the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the beloved book by the incomparable Roald Dahl. Winner of over 75 international awards, including 15 for Best Musical, Matilda continues to delight audiences in London, in Australia and on tour around North America. Edwardian Group preferred hotel partner of Matilda The Musical in London.

Audio-Described Performances Saturday 6 May, 2.30pm Touch Tour, 12.30pm Sunday 9 July, 3pm Touch Tour, 1pm Saturday 25 November, 2.30pm Touch Tour, 12.30pm Captioned Performances How to Book Sunday 7 May, 3pm CAP 08444 124648 Saturday 8 July, 2.30pm Minicom: 020 7087 7839 Sunday 26 November, 3pm Fax: 020 7087 7771 BSL interpreted Performance [email protected] Thursday 11 November, 2.30pm Find out more about access at the Relaxed Performance Cambridge Theatre at Sunday 11 June, 3pm uk.matildathemusical.com/tickets/ (call 01789 403436 to book) accessibility 08444 124648 uk.matildathemusical.com 13 September 2017 – February 2018

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 SEPTEMBER

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 no perf 7.15 1.30 OUR 1.30 1.15 7.15 1.15 To be 7.15 1.00 RLIVE 1.30 1.15 7.15 ● 1.15 no perf 7.30 7.30 1.30 Coriolanus Dido Dido Coriolanus Coriolanus Coriolanus announced Coriolanus Coriolanus Dido Coriolanus Coriolanus Coriolanus Dido Dido Dido 7.30 7.30 7.15 7.15 7.30 1.30 7.30 7.00 LIVE 7.15 7.30 1.30 Dido Dido Coriolanus Coriolanus Dido Dido Dido Coriolanus Coriolanus Dido Dido 7.30 7.30 7.15 7.30 7.15 L Dido Dido Coriolanus Dido Coriolanus

OCTOBER 7.30 7.30 Dido Dido

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 no perf 7.15 F 7.15 7.15 no perf 7.15 7.15 7.15 1.00 7.15 1.15 no perf 7.15 7.15 7.15 Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth 7.00 P 7.15 Twelfth Twelfth NOVEMBER

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 7.00 1.00 no perf 7.00 7.00 7.00 1.00 P 7.00 1.00 no perf 7.00 7.00 1.00 Imperium I Imperium I Imperium I Imperium II Imperium I Imperium I Imperium I Imperium I Imperium I Imperium II Imperium I 7.15 1.15 7.15 7.15 7.00 P 7.00 P 7.15 1.15 7.15 7.15 7.00 Carol Carol Carol Carol Carol Imperium II Twelfth Twelfth Carol Carol Imperium II 7.00 7.15 7.00 7.15 Imperium II Carol Imperium II Carol DECEMBER 7.15 7.15 Carol Twelfth

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 7.00 7.00 1.00 1.15 ● 7.00 1.00 no perf 7.00 7.00 1.00 ● 1.15 7.00 1.00 2.00 7.00 7.00 1.00 Imperium I Imperium II Imperium I Carol Imperium II Imperium I Imperium I Imperium II Imperium I Twelfth Imperium II Imperium I Carol Imperium I Imperium I Imperium II 7.15 7.15 7.00 7.00 7.15 1.15 7.15 1.15 OUR 7.00 7.15 1.15 7.15 7.00 Carol Carol Imperium II Imperium II Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Imperium I Carol Carol Carol Imperium II 7.15 7.15 7.00 7.00 ● 7.15 7.00 7.15 Carol Carol Imperium II Imperium II Carol Imperium II Carol 7.15 7.15 7.15

JANUARY 2018 JANUARY Twelfth Twelfth Carol

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1.15 ▲ 7.00 1.00 2.00 7.00 7.00 ● 1.00 1.15 7.00 1.00 L no perf 7.15 1.00 RLIVE 7.00 LIVE Carol Imperium I Imperium I L Imperium I Imperium II Imperium I Twelfth Imperium II Imperium I Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth 7.00 7.15 1.15 Carol 7.15 7.00 7.00 7.15 1.15 Imperium I Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Imperium II Imperium I Twelfth Twelfth 7.15 7.00 7.15 7.15 7.00 L Twelfth Imperium II Twelfth Twelfth Imperium II FEBRUARY 7.15 7.15 Carol Twelfth

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED

KEY: F = First Performance P = Press Night L = Last Performance OUR = Open Understudy Rehearsal RLIVE = Live to Cinema rehearsal LIVE = Live to Cinema ■ = Audio Described Performance ● = Captioned Performance ▲ = Relaxed Performance = Semi-integrated British Sign Language Interpreted Performance = Pre-or Post-Show on stage event

10 Stratford-upon-Avon Performance Schedule

THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 7.15 F 7.15 no perf 7.15 7.15 7.15 1.00 P 7.15 1.15 no perf 7.15 7.15 1.30 7.15 1.15 OUR 1.15 Coriolanus Coriolanus Coriolanus Coriolanus Coriolanus Dido Coriolanus Coriolanus Coriolanus Coriolanus Dido Coriolanus Coriolanus Coriolanus 7.30 F 7.30 7.30 7.30 7.30 7.00 P 7.30 1.30 7.30 7.30 7.15 7.30 7.15 1.30 Dido Dido Dido Dido Dido Coriolanus Dido Dido Dido Dido Coriolanus Dido Coriolanus Dido 7.30 7.15 7.30 7.30 7.15 Dido Coriolanus Dido Dido Coriolanus 7.30 7.30 SEPTEMBER Dido Dido 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 To be 7.30 ● 1.30 no perf 7.30 To be 7.30 7.30 To be 7.30 L no perf no perf no perf announced Dido Dido Dido announced Dido Dido announced Dido 7.30 Dido OCTOBER

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 7.00 F 7.00 1.15 no perf no perf no perf no perf 7.00 F 7.00 7.00 no perf 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 Imperium I Imperium I Twelfth Imperium II Imperium II Imperium II Imperium I Imperium I Imperium II Imperium II 7.15 7.15 7.00 7.15 F 7.15 7.15 7.15 Twelfth Twelfth Imperium I Carol Carol Carol Carol 7.15

Twelfth NOVEMBER

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1.15 7.00 1.00 no perf 7.00 7.00 1.00 1.15 7.00 1.00 no perf no perf 7.00 1.00 1.15 7.00 1.00 no perf Twelfth Imperium II Imperium I Imperium I Imperium II Imperium I Carol Imperium II Imperium I Imperium I Imperium I Twelfth Imperium II Imperium I 7.00 7.15 1.15 7.15 7.15 1.15 OUR 7.00 7.15 1.15 7.15 1.15 7.00 7.15 1.15 Imperium I Twelfth Carol Carol Carol Carol Imperium I Twelfth Carol Carol Carol Imperium I Carol Carol 7.15 7.00 7.00 7.15 7.00 7.00 7.15 7.00 Twelfth Imperium I Imperium II Twelfth Imperium II Imperium II Carol Imperium II 7.15 7.15 7.15 7.15 7.15 DECEMBER Carol Carol Carol Twelfth Carol

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1.15 7.00 1.00 2.00 7.00 7.00 1.00 1.15 7.00 1.00 2.00 7.00 ● 7.00 1.00 Carol Imperium II Imperium I Carol Imperium I Imperium II Imperium I Carol Imperium I Imperium II Carol Imperium I Imperium II Imperium I 7.00 7.15 ● 1.15 7.15 7.00 7.00 7.15 1.15 7.15 7.00 Imperium I Twelfth Twelfth Carol Imperium II Imperium I Twelfth Carol Carol Imperium II 7.15 7.00 7.15 ● 7.15 7.00 7.15 Carol Imperium II Carol Twelfth Imperium II Carol 7.15 7.15

Carol Carol 2018 JANUARY

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1.15 ● 7.15 1.15 no perf 7.15 7.15 7.15 1.15 7.15 1.15 Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth 7.15 7.15 7.15 7.15 L Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth Twelfth FEBRUARY

THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN

Royal Shakespeare Theatre Coriolanus, Twelfth Night, A Christmas Carol Swan Theatre Dido, Queen of Carthage, The Wondrous Imagination of Ovid the Storyteller, Imperium I: Conspirator, Imperium II: Dictator Abbreviations Dido = Dido, Queen of Carthage, Ovid = The Wondrous Imagination of Ovid the Storyteller, Twelfth = Twelfth Night, Carol = A Christmas Carol, Imperium I = Imperium I: Conspirator, Imperium II = Imperium II: Dictator

11 Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Front row seats Hearing and Guide Dogs There are four seats available at every Assistance Dogs can be taken into the performance in the front row of the Royal auditorium, please tell Box Office staff when Shakespeare Theatre and Swan Theatre booking your seat if you are bringing your stalls for people with either a visual or a dog. Alternatively you can leave your dog hearing impairment. Please ask Box Office with a member of staff in the foyer, please let staff about the availability of these seats us know when booking. when booking your ticket. Braille Wheelchair spaces We produce Cast Lists in Braille. If you The Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the would like to receive Access Matters Swan Theatre have several wheelchair in Braille please contact us at spaces. The Other Place has five available [email protected] or call 01789 403436. wheelchair spaces. Four of them are on the ground level and one on the upper level. Induction loop Although the Studio Theatre is unreserved, All our theatres are fitted with a loop system you can request wheelchair spaces. Please as are the Box Office and shop counters. make the Box Office aware when booking a Touch Tours wheelchair space. We offer free Touch Tours before Audio Described performances. Touch Tours offer the opportunity to get close to the set, costumes and props used in the play. During a tour backstage, the audio describers will guide you through important props and character costumes used in the production. Please call 01789 403436 to book your free place. © RSC Photo by David Tett Photo by David Photo

14 www.rsc.org.uk/assisted-performances Swan Theatre and The Other Place Audio Describers The Play’s The Thing Julia Grundy, Ellie Packer, Mary Plackett, The Play’s The Thing is our new interactive Carolyn Smith. exhibition for families, which opened in the autumn of 2016. Captioners Spark your imagination with weird and Stefanie Bell, Roz Chalmers, Janet Jackson, wonderful treasures from our past Ridanne Sheridan, Beverley Ward. productions. See costumes worn on our BSL Interpreters stages. Generate your own Shakespearean Becky Allen, Clare Edwards, Rachel Tipping. plot. Make Ariel fly. Step inside the mind of a director. This exhibition is multi-sensory, with touch labels, designed to be accessible for all. There is a lift to the first floor exhibition and the layout is designed to be accessible for wheelchair users. Large print information and audio transcription is available and video content is captioned. Assistance dogs are welcome in the exhibition. An annual pass for disabled people is £4.25. If you require the services of a companion their ticket is also £4.25. For more information about the exhibition visit www.rsc.org.uk/the-plays-the-thing/access, or if you have any questions about the accessibility of the exhibition, please email [email protected].

This exhibition is supported by © RSC Photo

01789 403436 15 Booking Tickets Theatre access Tickets for productions in Stratford-upon-Avon Both the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Swan Swan Theatre have lift access to all levels of Theatre for disabled people are £16, the building. There are wheelchair spaces on whenever you visit or wherever you choose to all levels of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre sit. If you require the services of a companion and Swan Theatre stalls. Adapted toilets are their ticket will also be £16. Tickets for The available on all levels of the Royal Other Place vary but are discounted. To book Shakespeare Theatre and on the ground floor please call 01789 403436. Alternatively you and first gallery level of the Swan Theatre. can book online using the access booking The Other Place has lift access to both levels form at www.rsc.org.uk of the Studio Theatre and there are also You can book for Captioned and BSL accessible toilets on both levels. interpreted performances online. To buy tickets, select the production you want to see, click the ‘Buy Tickets’ button and enter the code 10408 in the promo box above the list of dates. This will bring up the appropriate performances and link directly to the best seats. Accessible parking There are seven allocated parking bays for blue-badge users on Waterside directly outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and ten further bays on Chapel Lane, the road opposite the Swan Theatre. There are allocated blue-badge parking bays at the side and rear of The Other Place in Southern Lane. These are free of charge and do not have a time limit. These spaces are THE OTHER controlled by the local authority and are not PLACE for Royal Shakespeare Company visitors only. Please ensure you correctly display a current blue-badge. COLLEGE ST There is a car drop off point directly outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and a coach drop off point just past the Swan Theatre. www.rsc.org.uk/access [email protected] 01789 403436 Royal Shakespeare Company, Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 6BB This leaflet was printed in March 2017. Every effort is made to ensure that the information remains correct, but please check with the Box Office for full and final details. Registered charity number 212481.