Swan Theatre

The Swan Theatre stands beside the River Avon in Stratford-upon-Avon, attached to the larger Royal Shakespeare Theatre. It occupies the Victorian Gothic building that once housed the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, destroyed by fire in 1926. Trevor Nunn and Terry Hands led the Royal Shakespeare Company when the Swan opened. Designed by Michael Reardon, it has a deep thrust stage and an intimate auditorium for around 450 people. The space was meant for plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and European writers, with occasional Shakespeare. The Swan opened in 1986 with a production of *The Two Noble Kinsmen*, directed by Barry Kyle. Queen Elizabeth II visited Stratford to open the theatre on 13 November 1986. The first full season included works by Chekhov, Ibsen and Tennessee Williams. Between 2022 and 2023 the theatre was refurbished as part of a £112.8 million project. Antony Robinson, a noted metalworker, designed the wind vanes and door handles for the 1986 build. Visitors now find a refurbished auditorium with new carpets, upholstered seats and improved sound and lighting. A new induction hearing loop and upgraded air conditioning have restored the ability to fly scenic items over the stage. The two theatres share back-of-house and public spaces linked by a new colonnade. A rooftop restaurant overlooks the river, and a 36-metre tower offers views from a 32-metre platform. A riverside walk connects the theatre to Holy Trinity Church, and the new outdoor space, Weston Square, links the building to the medieval town.