Royal Shakespeare Reviews 49

I've visited a couple of times and find the performances good but ticket priced out of line.

Many visits to RSC since 2018 alongside attending many Shakespeare productions in other venues ranging from pub gardens to the National Theatre. Some of the best productions I have seen have been at the RSC. Equally, some of the more disappointing have been there.
I have been less satisfied by recent productions. Often feeling that excellent performances have been let down by gimmicky - hugely expensive - sets, which have distracted rather than enhanced.
We will go again, but productions are not as much a "must see" currently as they were 5 years ago.

Went to see BFG. Absolutely superb. I was spellbound, it was magical from start to finish. The actors /artists were like watching an artist creating cartoons/ art, making things come to life. So thoughtfully done. With humour and excellent effects. The memory will stay with me forever. The staff were friendly helpful and knowledgeable. Thank you.

Hoikes you in with the offer of £31 tickets, but the ones you’d want are £140.

Not happening in these days of woke ‘re-imagining’ and Shakespeare twisted into something unrecognisable to serve some halfwit’s ‘message’ about slavery/Palestine/gender politics.

Or to have Benedict Cumberbatch lecture you on your failure to support whatever fashionable cause he’s battened onto.

Took the Theatre Tour at 11.45 3 November 2025. The guide introduced himself as Dave. Both of us have mobility issues. He immediately rerouted the path of the tour to allow us to use lifts. We hope this did not detract from the tour for the rest of the party but it made the tour a joy for us. Dave was very knowledgable and an excellent communicator. A big thank you.

We booked a tour. The ticket gave two times, 1st page said theatre tour time 1015. Page 3 said 1145. I encountered someone who claimed to be a manager who, on my demonstrating at the stupidest of instructions accused me of being “elevated”.
I am severely disabled. To hang around for another 1 1/2 hours is ridiculous.
He said he couldn’t do anything as it was another manager’s responsibility.
My day and health suffered very painfully.
Total disgrace

I attended a performance of Much ado about Nothing and sat in row c seat 69. The actors had their backs to me most of the time so I couldn’t see. The problems continued as when they were at the front of the stage I had to peer through 2 chairs left as stage. I did send an email of complaint but have not received any response.

I received vouchers for my birthday last year and eagerly awaited a performance that I like the look of. I am a huge Rose Leslie, so chose The Constant Wife as soon as tickets were available - front row so that my husband could see and hear the performance @ £125.00!

I looked forward to the performance for five months, travelled a considerable distance, stayed overnight in Stratford and then, without warning or explanation, found myself watching an understudy. I was fuming for a good twenty minutes, and pondered leaving, before a funny line from the mother character made me laugh.

In short, the play was well adapted, the direction excellent, and the music a nice touch, but the whole performance was lacking. I felt cheated. There is no other medium in which this would be acceptable - imagine buying tickets to see Robbie Williams and ending up with a tribute act.

Upset, I emailed the RSC the following day, to ask the reason for Rose Leslie's absence, which I now understand has occurred previously during this run. The RSC took eleven days to respond, indicating that Rose Leslie had been ill (again?). Rather than apologise for my obvious disappointment, the RSC defensively emphasised its pride in its understudies. Never again!

I have always loved a trip to Stratford to watch a play but am appalled at the policy to charge private school children more than state school children. People attend private schools for many reasons and this feels nothing short of good old fashioned discrimination.

Disgusting that they charge more for independent school children. Won't be going back anytime soon.

I am (was) a regular visitor to the globe theatre but since hearing that the RSC are charging £6.50 per child more if they go to an independent school over a state school, I will no longer go. Can’t abide divisive, discriminatory actions, especially towards children

Disgraceful pricing policy.

The RSC - a charity that openly discriminates against children, many of whom are SEND, because their parents pay for their education at zero cost to the state sector. You should be ashamed.

Extremely discriminatory pricing not only for the tickets but for the study days charging children from independent schools £300 MORE than a state school child. This is awful! and shows how out of touch the RSC is. The majority of high earners in this country have their children in state schools. It’s about time people open their eyes to the misconception of private education.
A huge proportion of children are unable to get their needs met in a state system. Parents resorting to the private school system stretching their financial capabilities. Children attend schools for a multitude of reasons many need scholarships and bursaries. To be charged more for opportunities based on an education establishment a child goes to is ridiculous. I’ve read your policy on equality,diversity, justice and inclusion and I don’t see how this pricing aligns with this.

65% increase on my daughters ticket price because of where she goes to school.

Do better RSC!!!

Why discrimate against children on grounds of where they go to school?

Not fair at all. Sad.

Extremely Disappointed by Discriminatory Pricing Policy

I am deeply saddened and disappointed to discover that RSC employs a discriminatory pricing strategy based on a child's choice of school. This kind of practice is not only unnecessary but fundamentally unfair. Education and access to cultural enrichment—such as the theatre—should not be influenced by institutional or socioeconomic boundaries.

What message does this send to young people and their families? That where you study determines what you're worth? What’s next—differential pricing based on your postcode, background, or accent?

The arts should be a bridge, not a barrier. I urge RSC to reflect on the values it claims to uphold and immediately reconsider this divisive and exclusionary policy. Everyone deserves equal access—regardless of where they go to school.

Saddened to learn there are different pricing strategies in place dependent on one’s choice of school. What next? A different pricing policy dependent on where you live? Urge this company to reconsider this unnecessary and unfair practice.

The Royal Shakespeare Company claims to be committed to equality, diversity and dismantling structural inequalities. Yet they charge £10 for state school pupils and £16.50 for independent school pupils, solely based on which school a child attends.

This policy discriminates against children in independent schools, many of whom may be there on bursaries, scholarships, or through personal sacrifice. It is based on assumptions about class and wealth that are both lazy and exclusionary.

The RSC’s own words say they want to combat prejudice and systemic barriers. This pricing policy does the opposite. It reinforces divisions and punishes children based on a stereotype.

All children should be treated equally. The arts should bring people together, not drive them apart.

Discriminatory pricing policy against independent school pupils. Disgusting !