About us News, Features and Updates RSC Associate Artist Dame Helen Mirren named in King's Birthday Honours List RSC Associate Artist Dame Helen Mirren named in King's Birthday Honours List The King's Birthday Honours mark the extraordinary contributions and service of people across the UK. We’d like to congratulate our Associate Artist, Dame Helen Mirren, who was recognised as a Companion of Honour for services to Drama. Dame Helen Mirren has been named in this year's King's Birthday Honours list, for services to Drama Photo by Helen Maybanks © RSC Browse and license our images Other Arts Industry recipients include: Author Malorie Blackman, whose novel Noughts and Crosses was adapted for the RSC in 2007 and is a former RSC Governor, for services to Literature Arts Leader Helen Bowdur Writer Julia Donaldson, for services to Literature Musical Director at Longborough Festival Opera Anthony Negus Actor and Director Dexter Fletcher Artistic Scheduling Manager at English National Ballet Jennie Harrington Actor Lisa Riley View the full list of recipients You are in: About us Also in this section Also in this section At home with ShakespeareWatch RSC shows onlineProposed cuts to arts funding could damage UK theatreCollections on the moveYoung people campaign for a representative curriculumFirst performing arts company to get independent research statusRSC and University of Birmingham to continue partnershipNumber 10 visit celebrates RSC work with schoolsMBE for Jacqui O’Hanlon, our Director of LearningNew RSC Artsmark awards for lead associate schoolsNew edition of Shakespeare's Complete WorksVisit a world-leading theatre collectionNext Generation actor goes proCall for radical shake-up of EducationJim Henson’s Creature Shop creates My Neighbour Totoro puppetsDeath of Peter BrookMAKING THE CASE FOR AN ARTS-RICH EDUCATIONPupils come from Cornwall to Cumbria to perform Much AdoDavid WarnerHer Majesty The QueenThe Queen and the RSCNew Co-Artistic Directors AnnouncedYoung Carers Turn Their Experiences into ArtNext Generation costume maker takes the next stepRothschild Digital Fellowships 2022Swan theatre reopening4,000 performances of Matilda The Musical on the West EndStratford Students Stream Shakespeare Into ClassroomsAn inspirational event for teachersDavid Edgar given Writers' Guild Outstanding Contribution AwardHow do RSC apprenticeships work?My Neighbour Totoro Wins Multiple AwardsHuman drama reopens the Swan TheatreMy Neighbour Totoro wins six Olivier AwardsNew Children Join London Production of Matilda the MusicalHamnet opens refurbished Swan Theatre37 Plays judging panel announced37 Plays Unveiled New Learning Partnerships Announced in Five AreasCelebrating the plays that might have been lost"Give Us A Voice". Young People Call for Space in the ArtsComedian Stewart Lee rewrites Macbeth Porter sceneAnnouncing the death of Michael BoydThe day the real Macbeths ascended to the Scottish throne"It's key to the play". Stewart Lee rewrites Macbeth's Porter SceneNew Head of Casting AnnouncedMeet the new Miss Trunchbull and Miss HoneyWatch 37 new Play readingsMeet Cowbois' Jack and Miss LillianNicholas Hytner to join the RSC BoardSeason of Shakespeare on BBC FourCowboys, cowgirls and gender changeWatch The Fair Maid of the West from the pub2024/25 Season Creative TeamsFree Winter Trail offers magic and myth until March202,000 children perform songs from Matilda The MusicalAndrew Leveson to be our new Executive Director"Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not"Pericles to transfer to Chicago Shakespeare Theater"It's about to start!" Love's Labour's Lost begins a new seasonCelebrating Shakespeare’s birthday in SkegnessNew, energy-efficient rig to light up Royal Shakespeare TheatreJacqui O'Hanlon talks to Patsy RodenburgCreating the costumes for The School for ScandalDespina Tsatsas Appointed RSC Executive Producer (London)My Neighbour Totoro and The Emperor and Empress of JapanPlaymaking sees 258 young people perform HamletBailey Lock Appointed RSC Executive ProducerMatilda the Musical performed in 100 citiesNew fellows explore the big questions facing the creative and cultural sectorMatilda The Musical Announces Second UK & Ireland TourNext Generation alumni make their theatre career startProfessor Emma Smith joins the RSC BoardCrunchem Hall’s class of 2024/25Meet Our Two New Writers-in-ResidenceWear a piece of RSC history this festive seasonLeading the future of technology in the artsWe’re bringing Shakespeare to more than 24,000 young people in 2025Open casting call for Matilda The Musical UK tourMy Neighbour Totoro Announces Full Cast For West End TransferPulling out all the stops: how we built a working organ for Twelfth NightMacbeth-inspired video game, LiliNext Generation graduate takes on first professional role at the RSCSecretary of State delivers first Jennie Lee Lecture at RSCHamnet comes to the USA Midsummer Night's Dream released on DVDKyoto and English receive Olivier nominationsMy Neighbour Totoro releases 20,000 tickets for £25Local actors - we want to hear from youMy Neighbour Totoro opens in the West EndMaking Shakespeare accessibleBorn With Teeth - Shakespeare and Marlowe take centre stageMatilda celebrates 5,000 West End performancesStudents use Shakespeare to inspire community Warm Hub sessionsLILI selected for Immersive Competition in Festival de CannesPrizes celebrate storytelling, education and Shakespeare's legacyRSC one of six theatres leading National Youth Advisory BoardJamie Cullum joins The Constant Wife creative teamNew tour venue added for Matilda The MusicalFirst Encounters: The Tempest goes down a storm with 12,000 young peopleGreat Big Green WeekLILI makes Cannes history as first ever video game to be showcasedGeoff Barton hears from young people and teachers about the impact of working with the RSCSOLT report highlights vital role of theatre in society and jeopardy faced by sectorKyoto US cast announcedA season of globally inspired stories, thrillingly toldUnicorn Theatre and the RSC co-present A Midsummer Night's DreamOur response to the Government's spending reviewEveryone is welcome to celebrate Pride at the RSCFour things you might not know about queer history and ShakespeareJonathan Smith joins the RSC boardOur response to the Arts Council England ReviewThousands of young people perform in our annual Playmaking Festivals Our response to the Government's Industrial Strategy and Creative Industries Sector PlanNew London Season Announced for 2025/26First Encounters to reach 24,000 young people, plus two brand new locationsMy Neighbour Totoro puppets revealed in new trailerWhat's on this summerOur first Festival of Ideas explores the future of storytellingCast announced for Matilda The Musical UK and Ireland TourJohn Leader to star as The BFGChildren's casting call out for MacbethFull Barbican cast announced for Wendy & Peter PanLILI selected for Venice Immersive CompetitionNew toolkit launched to help theatres build school audiences Announcing our 2026 seasonRSC 2030: agile, sustainable and resilientCIC report shows access to arts creates better health and wellbeingThe Constant Wife embarks on 2026 UK TourMatilda The Musical becomes 10th longest running musical on the West EndCurriculum and Assessment Review: A Golden Opportunity for Creative Learning The BFG makes the leap to Singapore, and full cast confirmedWhat's on in OctoberPatsy Rodenburg appointed as RSC Emeritus Director of VoiceMy Neighbour Totoro extends its West End runOur response to the final curriculum and assessment review report 15 facts about Matilda The Musical to celebrate 15 years on stageLeading actors support groundbreaking RSC Shakespeare Curriculum launchIntroducing our six COHORT playwrights in residenceRSC 2030: next step towards agile, sustainable and resilientThe Boy Who Harnessed the Wind to transfer to @sohoplaceWhat's on this winterDouble your donation with the Big GiveKyoto - from Stratford to New YorkOur response to Baroness Hodge's ACE ReviewWatch Shakespeare on PrimeRSC Director of Creative Innovation, Sarah Ellis, awarded MBEWhat's on in the New YearOur response to Economic Value of Tourism reportAnnouncing our 2026-27 seasonOur response as UK Government announces £1.5bn capital investment in cultural organisations Placebo join The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui creative teamCyrano de Bergerac to transfer to London's West EndShakespeare Curriculum is showcased at BETT 2026RSC Co-Artistic Director Daniel Evans joins UK government delegation to China Training the next generation of theatre-makersWorking Backstage: a hands-on training experience for young peopleMajor new stage play, Game of Thrones: The Mad King, based on George R. R. Martin’s novels, to premiere at the RSC Special guided tour celebrates influential women in the RSC’s historyAnnouncing events to celebrate 20 years of partnership workingOur response to SOLT’s Theatre in the UK Report 2026Our comment on the Government's response to the Review of Arts Council England'Shakespeare's Strong Women' hits shelvesRSC one of 130 cultural venues to benefit from DCMS £127.8 million Arts Everywhere FundBill Pullman joins the cast of The Cherry OrchardRSC champions new Arts and Culture Strategy for Stratford-upon-AvonFuture of Theatre Conference 2026 Keynote SpeechNew Rapid Evidence Reviews show powerful impact of arts-rich education2026 Prizes Celebrate Shakespeare, Education And The Power Of StorytellingA tribute to Michael Pennington, RSC Honorary Associate ArtistWhat's on in Spring/SummerMy Neighbour Totoro announces final West End extensionOur response to the CMS Committee Tourism ConsultationMatilda The Musical tours China in 2026RSC Announces Four-Year, National Touring ProgrammeRSC and Education in Motion win UK-China Business Award for Cultural Partnership of the YearA Visit from our Patron, His Majesty the KingGeneral Auditions for d/Deaf and Disabled Actors at the RSCShakespeare meets Radiohead as Hamlet Hail to the Thief has its London premiere at the Barbican Theatre < Back to News, Features and Updates You may also like A Visit from our Patron, His Majesty the King Find out more Who's who Find out more Past Productions Find out more
