Courtyard Theatre (Royal Shakespeare Theatre (Stratford-upon-Avon))

Member Name: sarah101

Product:	Royal Shakespeare Theatre (Stratford-upon-Avon)
Date:	01/09/08 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Marvelous productions, comfortable seats

Disadvantages: Would not want to be in the gallery!

Have gone to other theatres in the past but not for about 5 years so can only really comment on The Courtyard Theatre that I have attended recently and will be again a further three times before the year is out.

I went to see Hamlet last month and I am the first to sadly admit more for David Tennant than anything else! However I have never really wanted to see Hamlet, mainly for the length.

The production was amazing regardless of David Tennant and Patrick Stewart performing. I found myself falling in love with Shakespear all over again, something I never really lost but have neglected over the last 5 or 6 years.

The theatre itself is beautiful and the seats are very comfortable to begin with, I was sat in the stalls at the side near the back row. I say to begin with more to do with the fact it was over 2 hours once I had sat down before I was able to move again!

The theatre offers free tours during the daytime across the week and is something I hope to do before I return in October. Whilst booking tickets to A Midsummer Night's Dream I discovered that child seats are half price! I also noticed something about cheap seats for 16-25 year olds but I did not look into it so I am not too sure how it works.

They also offer cheaper seat performances for the first few days of a production so it is always worth having a look out for those. The website has changed over the last few months and when you book online you can now choose and see where you will be sitting on a map.

The people in the gallery appeared to be leaning over looking down on the stage and I did wonder if they had a good view. When purchasing my tickets they mentioned it was restricted view, this is because of the colums but it did not hinder my view at any point, the most I had to do was lean to the other side a few times!

On the night of the production it is worth pre-paying/ordering your intermission drinks as they then have them ready on a table at the side of the bar and it saves you queuing. It is also worth visiting the shop before the play or during the break as it was closed when the play finished.

As for parking I was lucky enough to park on the street the theatre is on and it is free to park there after 6pm but there are carparks nearby.

Summary: Have purchased tickets for three more productions before the year is out!