Garden Theatre To Witness Performances By The Royal Shakespeare Company

The Royal Shakespeare Company is expected to resume live performances at a specially designed “Garden Theater”.

The venue, designed for safety with Covid, is ideal at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Swan Gardens, an area overlooked by the main and large performance spot.

Re-Launch

RSC will re-launch its live show with The Comedy of Errors, which was postponed during the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and closures last year.

It has also announced a televised production of The Winter’s Tale.

BBC cast is also scheduled for April.

The RSC closed its theater on March 17, 2020 and has not opened since.

‘We Look Forward With Confidence’

“These are challenging times and will continue to be problems, but we look forward with confidence,” said RSC artistic director Gregory Doran.

“Our doors closed as The Winter’s Tale and The Comedy of Errors were preparing to open.

“The outdoor theatre gives us the security that we can perform to good-sized audiences as we emerge from the pandemic.”

The government announced last month plans to end the lockout, reopening of outdoor theatres on May 17 earlier.

The Comedy of Errors is expected to be made in the summer, with more details and a plan to be announced next month.

The Audience Is Back

Stratford-upon-Avon has been hit hard by the coronavirus as much of its economy depends on tourism.

“We will play our part in the recovery of our towns and cities and the wellbeing of our communities,” Mr Doran said.

“And we cannot wait to welcome audiences back.”

The Winter’s Tale will retain its full original cast and has been re-rehearsed adhering to strict safety measures as well as being adapted for TV.

It is due to be broadcast on BBC Four in April around Shakespeare’s birthday, although a transmission date is yet to be finalised.

The play’s director, Erica Whyman, said The Winter’s Tale, with its themes of family, truth and justice was “the most perfect play to be rehearsing as we begin to believe in recovery”.

She said: “We have been working on this play for 15 months – with our own wide gaps – and we have learned so much about what the play means.”