Discover the stories and magic of the Royal Shakespeare Company

Go behind the scenes and discover the secrets and stories from the RSC, past and present. Get close up to our costumes, see how our sets are built and learn about theatre superstitions. Our guided tours run daily, led by our experienced tour guides, and every tour will be truly unique.

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OUR TOURS

Theatre Tour

Group of adults and children laughing and trying on costumes and props 

Immerse yourself in the workings of theatre, with stories of people who shaped our unique history

We begin the story of the RSC in our Front of House areas, taking a look at the hidden history of the most-seen areas of the building and introducing you to the people and stories that made the RSC what it is today, from well-known performers to skilled craftspeople.

No day at the RSC is the same so depending on what is happening on the day of your tour, you will get to see a part of the building that isn't usually accessible to the public. While you're with us, you could be led through the iconic Royal Shakespeare Theatre or you could be taken into the beautiful Swan Theatre.

You will also go behind the scenes and get up close to some of our costumes, with the chance to get hands on, try on some items of headwear - maybe a crown or a helmet? And explore our hair and make-up box. 

 

What you need to know

 

  • Tour duration: 60 minutes
  • The Theatre Tour will include access into either the Royal Shakespeare or Swan Theatre, but we can’t guarantee access to both theatres
  • The tour route is fully wheelchair accessible
  • We make every effort to include access to the auditorium as part of the tour, but we are a working theatre company and routes may change due to other activity taking place and so this isn’t always guaranteed
  •  BOOK tickets

    Ghost Tour

    Outside of the RSC building in the dark, building lit up 

    Did someone say "Macbeth"? Learn about theatre superstitions and some supernatural sightings

    There has been a theatre on our site since 1879 and this tour will take you through some of the stories that have arisen during that 140+ years, including ghostly exits and entrances, but also the history of theatre superstition.

    Once the building has closed to other visitors, you will visit the Royal Shakespeare and Swan Theatres and experience complete darkness, then move through to other parts of the buildings where visitors are normally not allowed to find out more about how we achieve some of the gory or ghostly effects in our performances.

     

    What you need to know

     

  • Tour duration: 60 minutes (4-5pm on Sundays)
  • Arrive 15 minutes before your tour starts, as the building will be locked after this time. 
  • Tour route is fully wheelchair accessible.
  • Book TICKETS

    GROUP TOUR PACKAGES

    Group of people in the Swan Theatre on a tour   

    We have a range of packages for groups running  throughout the year. For more details about what we offer for your group, visit our bring your group the the RSC page.

    Cost: £10 per person for groups of 10+ or £13.50 per adult. Children are half price with full paying adults.

    To discuss which package will work for you and make a booking call 01789 331111 from midday to 6pm (UK time) Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays, or email groups@rsc.org.uk

    Costume Tour

    Man and woman looking at ornate costumes on dummies 

    Get close up to our fabulous costumes and discover the expert tailoring and craft techniques that go into making them

    You will be shown around our state-of-the-art Costume Workshop to see at first-hand how our costumes are made, from cutting, tailoring and stitching to finishing techniques such as dyeing, printing and beading.

    After seeing the workshops where our costumes are made, you will visit our Costume Hire at The Other Place where we store and hire out more than 60,000 items of costume. There you will get close up to our huge selection of gowns, crowns and many other items.

     

    What you need to know

     

  • Tour duration: 60 minutes
  • The tour will begin in the main RSC building, then moves across the road to 39 Waterside and then to The Other Place in Southern Lane (3 minutes walk). Wear weather-appropriate clothing and footwear for walking outside.
  • This tour will include moving in and out of buildings. Be prepared for all weathers, rain and sunshine. Appropriate footwear should be worn and possibly a brolly.
  • This is a continuous walking tour with no opportunities to sit down during the tour. The entire route is fully accessible for wheelchair and mobility scooter users.
  • Book TICKETS

    Scenic Workshop Tour

    2 artists painting giant backdrops in a workshop 

    Discover how our skilled carpenters, engineers and artists build the world of a performance

    See the life cycle of a set, from the Drawing Office, where our skilled engineers create the drawings and plans for each object of scenery that appears on the stage. Then to the Scenic Engineering Workshop where a team of engineers fabricate and weld materials together, building the sets and their underlying structure.

    Step into the carpentry workshop to see our skilled carpenters create scenery from wood, plastic and canvas, and discover some unusual items in the Prop Workshop where expert propmakers create the objects you see on stage.

    Every tour will be unique - your visit takes place in our workshop/warehouse environment on a normal working day where we are building sets and props for our shows. This is a chance to see parts of a show taking shape before they appear on the stage and there is likely to be heavy machinery in use and forklifts in operation to move larger items around the workshop. 

    Finally there will be a rare opportunity to explore our Prop Hire store, a treasure trove of objects, small and large, where we store the furniture and props used in our shows and hire them out.

     

    What you need to know

     

  • Tour duration: 75 minutes
  • Wear closed toe and heel footwear, with no high heels
  • Getting here: The tour takes place at our workshops at Timothy Bridge Road, on the outskirts of Stratford-upon-Avon. Onsite parking is only available for blue badge holders. The closest parking and public transport is Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway Station, 12 minutes' walk from the workshops.
  • Access: unfortunately there are no lifts in the workshop and the tour isn't accessible for mobility scooters or wheelchair users. There are 100+ steps up and down stairs, so you will need good mobility to explore the building.
  • Suitable for adults and young people aged 12+, not suitable for young children or toddlers
  • Prebooking is essential as there is no booking facility at Timothy Bridge Road. Please show your ticket on your phone or as a printout.
  • Book TICKETS

    Tours for school visits

    Tours for school groups

    All of our tours can be tailored for school visits - just let us know the ages of the students taking part when booking and we will do the rest. Please note that one adult is required for every 10 students.

    Schools can book a Theatre Tour by emailing learning.boxoffice@rsc.org.uk or call the Learning Hotline on 01789 331259 (midday – 6pm, Monday – Friday, excluding Bank Holidays).

    Take the lift to the Tower

    Boasting panoramic views of Stratford-upon-Avon, the Theatre Tower stands at 32m above street level - the equivalent of approximately seven double-decker buses stacked on top each other. 

    Look out over the town's local historic buildings, the River Avon or further afield - on a clear day you can see almost 20 miles of Warwickshire countryside and even into Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Worcestershire.

    You can visit every day from 12 midday to 4pm, free of charge except on matinee days or during inclement weather. Fully accessible by lift. Advance booking is required for groups of 10 or more, along with payment of a small administrative fee. Find further details on our Groups page.