The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a leading global theatre company that sparks local, national and international conversations that build connections, create opportunities and bring joy. As part of this work, we engage with local, regional, national and international stakeholders on our advocacy work and policy asks.
At the RSC, we believe that the theatre is – and always has been – a place for debate. To make thrilling theatre, where we ask audiences to walk around in other people’s shoes, a plurality of views is essential.
We limit the policy positions the RSC takes to issues that directly affect our ability to make theatre and advocate for an arts-rich education. In these areas, we have expertise and therefore feel capable to take nuanced and considered positions.
As a national arts institution, we are committed to plurality of expression, with artists being able to express themselves to audiences through the work that they make with us. This, as with freedom of speech, has limitations and, in line with relevant legislation, we do not support any artist or work that is intentionally discriminatory and/or incites violence or harm towards any group.
The RSC is aware that this position will result in discomfort for some. We seek to hold that discomfort with care and respect, and to channel that plurality of thinking into the creation of art that is part of local, regional, national and international conversations that challenge and affect us in ways that help us explore what it is to be human and expand our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
You can find our recent policy and advocacy work on this page, along with our latest responses and policy news. For more information on this work, contact sophie.davies@rsc.org.uk.
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The RSC’s asks of government and policymakers are designed to ensure that the vibrant but delicate theatre ecosystem is both maintained and boosted to support crucial policy agendas such as delivering growth, and the power of theatre and Shakespeare is used to maximise positive impact on audiences, communities and children’s learning.
Our initial recommendations and response to the Arts Council England Review. The Review of ACE presents an opportunity to improve to create an expanded mandate to better support the interconnected ecosystem, to reframe ACE’s strategy and to create an efficient relationship model between ACE and who it funds.
