IT’S going to be ‘Open House' for the Royal Shakespeare Company this coming Saturday in Stratford-upon-Avon.

On Saturday, July 2, the RSC is holding a day of special activities for the whole family at its recently re-opened studio theatre, The Other Place - just a hundred yards or so along the road from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

It will also be the first opportunity to purchase a limited number of tickets for the RSC’s forthcoming Making Mischief Festival of new plays for just 70p a ticket.

Located on the banks of the River Avon on Stratford’s Southern Lane, The Other Place houses a brand new 200 seat theatre space, the RSC’s extensive costume store, a new theatre tour (From Page to Stage), and a café bar.

The Open House event comprises a range of free events giving a flavour of the very special atmosphere at The Other Place and includes -

• 20 minute taster theatre tours, with glimpses into The Studio Theatre, a rehearsal room and the Costume Store, which holds over 30,000 of the RSC’s costumes.Tours run on the half hour between 1-3.30pm, with half the tickets bookable in advance, and half available on the day.See end of release for full details.

• Live music in the foyer between 5.30-7pm with Birmingham based musicians and singers, Alima, Rochaé, Ed Geater and Barbella, and poet Raza Hussein.

• Blood, Guts and Gore, 12noon – former Head of Wigs and Make-Up Brenda Leedham will lead a session showing how the RSC creates fake scars and bruises.  See end of release for full details.

• Activities for younger visitors, including a dressing-up box, special colouring sheets, and a playcart with fun craft activities.

• A Big Pub Quiz from 7.30-9.30pm. Test your knowledge in this free-to-enter quiz.  Just turn up on the night and form a team.  Although most of the questions will be General Knowledge, there will be one Shakespeare themed round.
 

Those coming along to the Open House event will also be the first people to have the chance to buy a ticket for the forthcoming Making Mischief festival of new work – at just 70p, the price of tickets when the original The Other Place opened in 1974.

The Festival, which runs in The Studio Theatre at The Other Place between July 27 and August 27, includes two new plays, Fall of the Kingdom, Rise of the Foot Soldier by Somalia Seaton, and Always Orange by Fraser Grace, plus the return of the award-winning Revolt. She said. Revolt again. by Alice Birch, and Clean Break’s critically acclaimed one-woman show Joanne performed by Tanya Moodie.

There are 100 70p tickets available to purchase at the Open House from 12noon.  Tickets can only be bought in person at the Box Office at The Other Place, on a first come, first served basis.

A total of 300 further 70p tickets will be available throughout the Festival, with a selection on sale every morning  from 10am (between July 27-August 27), again in person at the Box Office at The Other Place.  70p tickets are limited to two tickets per person.

A visit to the Open House can also be combined with a performance at the RSC’s outdoor theatre, The Dell, located just a short distance away from The Other Place.

On July 2 the Brit School performs Titus Andronicus at 1pm and Much Ado About Nothing at 3pm. Entrance is free and no booking required.