How splendid to be able to look back and say “I was there”. What a marvellous atmosphere in our new main house auditorium before, during and after the very first full length production on the new stage of one of William Shakespeare’s plays. The KING LEAR company did us proud indeed as they took to the stage with the panache and assurance suggesting they had been performing on it for many months.
At the end of this historic performance, much cheering and a large section of the audience on their feet. Bravo indeed !
The entire company (including all backstage members) had been working flat out with technical rehearsals earlier in the week and the evening was also a triumph for our Lighting, Sound and Automation Departments. Those of us who greatly enjoyed the special event on 15th December last (LIGHTS SOUND ACTION) know that Vince Herbert, Jeremy Dunn and Adam Harvey – together with their colleagues, had been awaiting their opportunity to show what marvellous technical effects audiences can now expect. A great deal of planning and expertise had been involved and to all concerned, a bravo is due for you as well.
I now await a similarly enjoyable experience with the restaging of ROMEO AND JULIET, as well as the special effects for the new productions in our 50th Birthday celebrations.
It is certainly going to be quite a year!
Tony Boyd-Williams
RSC Friends 
It was exciting to be there on the first night of King Lear in the new RST, but also really interesting to see how this production has developed over the year and how it works in the different spaces. Having seen the production in the Courtyard, Theatre Royal Newcastle, Roundhouse and now the new theatre, I think it has really matured.