Royal Shakespeare Company Quiz: Stratford's Theatre History

This Royal Shakespeare Company quiz takes a seat in the theatres beside the River Avon. Play 10 interactive questions on the RSC's 1961 founding, Peter Hall, the 1926 fire, Elisabeth Scott's 1932 theatre, the 2010 thrust stage rebuild, the Swan Theatre, Garrick's 1769 Jubilee, Shakespeare's birthplace and grave, and Matilda the Musical.

Start Royal Shakespeare Company Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Town
In which town is the RSC based?
Founded
When was the Royal Shakespeare Company formed under that name?
Founder
Which director founded the RSC?
Fire
What happened to the first memorial theatre in 1926?
Architect
Who designed the 1932 Shakespeare Memorial Theatre?
Stage
What kind of stage did the 2010 rebuild create?
Swan
Which smaller RSC theatre opened in 1986?
Jubilee
Which actor held a Shakespeare Jubilee in Stratford in 1769?
Grave
Where is Shakespeare buried?
Musical
Which hit musical began at the RSC in 2010?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: In which town is the RSC based?
Answer: Stratford-upon-Avon
Shakespeare was born there.
Q2: When was the Royal Shakespeare Company formed under that name?
Answer: 1961
It grew from an earlier festival company.
Q3: Which director founded the RSC?
Answer: Peter Hall
He was only 30 when he began.
Q4: What happened to the first memorial theatre in 1926?
Answer: It burned down
Only part of it survived.
Q5: Who designed the 1932 Shakespeare Memorial Theatre?
Answer: Elisabeth Scott
She was a pioneering woman architect.
Q6: What kind of stage did the 2010 rebuild create?
Answer: A thrust stage
Audiences sit on three sides.
Q7: Which smaller RSC theatre opened in 1986?
Answer: The Swan Theatre
It has a wooden galleried design.
Q8: Which actor held a Shakespeare Jubilee in Stratford in 1769?
Answer: David Garrick
Heavy rain spoiled parts of it.
Q9: Where is Shakespeare buried?
Answer: Holy Trinity Church, Stratford
His grave carries a curse on movers.
Q10: Which hit musical began at the RSC in 2010?
Answer: Matilda the Musical
Tim Minchin wrote its songs.

Stages Beside the Avon in Shakespeare's Town

Stratford-upon-Avon is Shakespeare's birthplace and home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Theatre there dates back to actor David Garrick's 1769 Jubilee. A Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opened in 1879, but it burned down in 1926.

Architect Elisabeth Scott designed its replacement, opened in 1932, one of the first major public buildings in Britain designed by a woman. In 1961 director Peter Hall formed the Royal Shakespeare Company. A major rebuild completed in 2010 created a thrust stage with audiences on three sides, bringing actors closer to the crowd.

The intimate Swan Theatre opened in 1986. Visitors also see Shakespeare's birthplace on Henley Street and his grave in Holy Trinity Church. The RSC also creates new work, including Matilda the Musical, which premiered in Stratford in 2010 before conquering the West End and Broadway.

What This Quiz Teaches

Theatre fans will enjoy these questions.

When the RSC formed
Which theatres it uses
Who designed them
Which history came before
Which hits it created

Did You Know?

The RSC tours productions across the UK and abroad.
A tower at the theatre gives views over the Avon.
Many famous actors began their careers at the RSC.
Anne Hathaway's Cottage is near Stratford.
The RSC runs education programs for schools.