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The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 15.1471  Friday, 23 July 2004

From:           Al Magary <al@magary.com>
Date:           Thursday, 22 Jul 2004 18:37:10 -0700
Subject:        Plan to Demolish Royal Shakespeare Theatre Dropped

RSC drops plan to scrap theatre
BBC NEWS, July 22, 2004
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3916483.stm

The Royal Shakespeare Company has dropped controversial plans to
demolish its Grade II listed theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The company had been considering knocking down the 72-year-old Royal
Shakespeare Theatre as part of a £150m refurbishment programme.

Speaking at the RSC's autumn season launch, chairman Sir Christopher
Bland said the plan had now been scrapped.

But other redevelopment proposals were still being considered, the RSC said.

Sir Christopher said demolishing the RST, which was designed by
Elisabeth Scott after the original Victorian theatre burned down in
1926, was now a "categorical no", The Stage newspaper reported.

He said: "Risking the history of the company and the history of the
theatre and the recent history of the row over the demolition of a Grade
II listed building by a woman architect, whatever the justification, the
obstacles are too great and we are not going to do it."

The company first announced its plans to demolish the theatre in 2001 to
replace it with a "theatre village".

The plans emerged under controversial former artistic director Adrian
Noble, who said the theatre was "unwelcoming" and should be knocked down.

The move attracted a storm of controversy, including criticism from
actor Michael Gambon, and Dame Judi Dench, who said she was "deeply
worried" about the company's future.

The redevelopment won backing from Arts Council England, which pledged £50m.

But the company started to play down the prospects of demolishing the
theatre after Mr Noble resigned in March 2003 to be replaced by Michael
Boyd.

The RSC now says the refurbishment will go ahead without demolishing the
main theatre.

A spokesman said: "It was only ever one of several options and we are
going to pursue other roads. We may build other theatres or we may
change the inside of the RST.

"We are looking to create the best playhouse for Shakespeare in this
country and beyond."

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