The best place in the world to see a Shakespeare play? The bard’s home town of Stratford-upon-Avon, a quick day trip outside of London. On a recent trip to England, Luxury Travel Advisor enjoyed a performance of “Romeo and Juliet” at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. One of the world’s most famous theatre ensembles, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) performs all year round at this leading venue. The theatre itself has just emerged from a four-year transformation-- designed to bring the audience and actors together the way they were in Shakespeare’s time. The result is extraordinary. With a new thrust stage that juts into the audience, the 1,000 seat Royal Shakespeare Theatre makes for some intense performances. (The adjacent Swan Theatre also got a revamp, but the Royal Shakespeare Theatre really steals the show.) There isn’t a bad seat in the house-and the acoustics are remarkable.
Notes on bookings: It’s possible to enjoy a number of different productions in a given week. Group ticket discounts are available for parties of eight or more adults, with 5 pounds off Superseats and top price seats, plus one half price ticket for the group organizer. Available for Monday-Friday performances.
Suggest a pre-theatre dinner at the RSC Rooftop Restaurant, offering stunning views of the River Avon, the Bancroft Gardens, and the surrounding countryside from its perch on the top floor. Your clients can nosh on freshly prepared modern British food like: Celeriac and Apple Soup; Tartare of Cornish Mackerel with English Rhubarb; Scotch Quail’s Egg with Ox Tongue; Free Range Chicken with Savoy Cabbage, Bacon and Tarragon Cream; Hereford Beef with fondant potato, carrot and sprouting broccoli. A fixed price menu is available for matinees and 4:30 pm for evening performances with one-, two- and three-course options available, starting at 11.50 pounds.
The RSC’s recommended hotel in Stratford is the 45-room Arden Hotel, situated opposite the Swan Theatre. Spacious suites have views over the river.
Image via The Guardian