The Other Place

The Other Place is a small black box theatre on Southern Lane in Stratford-upon-Avon, close to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. It belongs to the Royal Shakespeare Company and reopened in 2016 as a 200-seat studio. The building has been remodelled several times since it first opened in 1974. It started as a converted rehearsal room known for experimental productions. The name reflects its origins as the RSC’s first studio space in Stratford. The theatre is worth visiting for its role in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s history. In 1975, a young Ben Kingsley starred in Hamlet here, a production that critics praised as groundbreaking. The original director, Buzz Goodbody, died just before its opening. The theatre later closed and reopened in 1991, hosting workshops and international performances. It closed again before being restored in 2016 as part of the Transformation project. Visitors find a flexible studio space with seating for 200. Tours allow the public to see over 30,000 costumes. The theatre also hosts small conferences and community events. Its design keeps the intimacy of the original while adding modern facilities. The space encourages close interaction between actors and audiences. It stands as the final stage of Stratford’s theatre redevelopment.