New Theatre, The

Synopsis: Last episode in a three-part radio series exploring the story of the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. In the final programme, presenter James Naughtie focuses on the role of the theatre architecture. He speaks with the key players about the problems with the Elisabeth Scott Shakespeare Memorial Theatre built in 1932, the innovative experiments at The Other Place and The Swan, and - built within the original walls - the brand new theatre with its thrust stage which opened with Michael Boyd’s production of Macbeth in April 2011.
BBC radio programme information: "Former Artistic Directors Trevor Nunn, Terry Hands and Adrian Noble tell Jim about their times with the company while Judi Dench recalls the terror and hilarity of performing with Ian McKellen in Nunn’s famously intense production of Macbeth at The Other Place in 1976. Architect Rab Bennetts and current Artistic Director Michael Boyd explain the challenge of creating the new space while the series culminates in an examination of why performing Shakespeare matters to the artistic well-being of the nation.
As Peter Brook says to Jim in a rare interview: ‘This is Shakespeare. Not "Shakespeare Memorial" but this is Shakespeare as the real, living example that there is something more’." (30 minutes)
Series: RSC at 50, The
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Radio
Year of production: 2011
Subjects: Drama
Keywords: Royal Shakespeare Company; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); stage design; theatre history; Royal Shakespeare Theatre; Shakespeare Memorial Theatre; Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon; Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon