The Play's The Thing

Step inside and let your imagination fly as you discover more than 100 years of theatre-making magic.

Step inside and let your imagination fly as you discover more than 100 years of theatre-making magic.

Containing items from the RSC Collection, one of the most significant Shakespeare and theatre collections in the world, our free The Play's The Thing exhibition offers a unique insights into the history of theatre-making in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Play's The Thing is located on the first floor in the Swan Wing of the Royal Shakespeare Company building. 

Free entry | Open every day from 12 midday, closing at 7pm (4pm on Sundays). 

No advance booking required, except for groups of 10+

New items for 2024

For 2024 the exhibition has been co-curated with a number of local community organisations, including Coventry’s Positive Youth Foundation, Fred Winter Centre, ILEAP and Warwickshire Pride. The groups have shaped the exhibition by choosing which items they would like to see in it, including the costume of the Player Queen from Hamlet (2008) worn by Ryan Gage. 

The exhibition includes Beyond the Borders, a spoken word film by artist, musician, rapper and Coventry’s Poet laureate John Bernard, working with the RSC and Positive Youth Foundation, inspired by Tanika Gupta's play The Empress, that played in the Swan Theatre in 2023. 

 

Hamlet 2008
© RSC Browse and license our images

 

Heritage

 

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In This Section

Inside The Play's The Thing

See inside one of the most important Shakespeare and theatre collections in the world and immerse yourself in the history of performance.

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Our collection and archive

We have collected more than 10,000 items related to our shows and theatre history in Stratford-upon-Avon. Together they create a fascinating record of our theatre-making past.

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