Royal Shakespeare Company

The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Ltd. Incorporated was established in 1875 when London brewer Charles Flower donated a building site in nearby Stratford-upon-Avon. He believed that every town should have a permanent subsidized company of actors. In 1879, the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opened, and after it was destroyed by a fire in 1926, a new theater was built on adjacent land. In 1961, the organization was renamed the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).

Over the years, RSC has overseen renovations to its buildings, the appointment of a Royal Charter, and an expansion of the organization's theatrical repertoire. Today, RSC's performances annually reach more than 1 million people  across the globe through touring, residencies, and live broadcasts. In addition to its productions, RSC provides an immersive educational program for 500,000-plus students each year. Through this work, RSC welcomes students and emerging professionals from diverse backgrounds to enjoy, participate in, and find a future in the world of Shakespeare and theater.