Editing Stratford-upon-Avon (section)

==Culture==
===Theatre===
[[File:Royal Shakespeare Theatre south.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Royal Shakespeare Theatre]] showing the embedded [[Swan Theatre (Stratford)|Swan Theatre]]]]

The first real [[theatre]] in Stratford was a temporary wooden affair built in 1769 by the actor [[David Garrick]] for his [[Shakespeare Jubilee]] celebrations of that year to mark William Shakespeare's birthday. The theatre, built not far from the site of the present [[Royal Shakespeare Theatre]], was almost washed away in two days of torrential rain that resulted in terrible flooding.<ref name="FindingShakespeare_Jubilee"/><ref name="BBC_Jubilee">{{cite web|title=Shakespeare on Tour – Who can we thank for Shakespeare's popularity?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1qQQg9HFn838cThwg5WHyVp/who-can-we-thank-for-shakespeares-popularity|publisher=BBC|access-date=9 November 2016}}</ref> To celebrate the 300th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in 1864, brewer [[Charles Edward Flower]] instigated the building of a temporary wooden theatre, known as the Tercentenary Theatre, which was built in a part of the brewer's large gardens on what is today the site of the new, and temporary, [[Courtyard Theatre]]. After three months the Tercentenary Theatre was dismantled, with the timber used for housebuilding purposes.<ref name="TheTheatreTrust">{{cite web|title=Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Swan Theatre – The Theatres Trust|url=http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/879-royal-shakespeare-theatre-and-swan-theatre|website=Theatrestrust.org.uk|access-date=9 November 2016}}</ref>

In the early 1870s, Flower gave several acres of riverside land to the local council on the understanding that a permanent theatre be built in honour of Shakespeare's memory, and by 1879 the first [[Shakespeare Memorial Theatre]] had been completed. It proved to be a huge success, and by the early 20th century it was effectively being run by the actor/manager [[Francis Robert Benson|Frank Benson]].<ref name="TheTheatreTrust"/> The theatre burned down in 1926, with the then artistic director, [[William Bridges-Adams]], moving all productions to the local [[Movie theater|cinema]].

An architectural competition was arranged to elicit designs for a new theatre, with the winner, English architect [[Elisabeth Scott]], creating the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The new theatre, adjoining what was left of the old theatre, was opened by the then [[Prince of Wales]], later [[Edward VIII]], in 1932. The new theatre had many illustrious artistic directors, including the actor [[Anthony Quayle]]. Sir [[Peter Hall (theatre director)|Peter Hall]] was appointed artistic director (designate) in 1959, and formed the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] (RSC) in 1961.

The Royal Shakespeare Company also runs two smaller theatres, the [[Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon|Swan Theatre]], which was created in the 1980s out of the shell of the remains of the original Memorial Theatre and is modelled on an [[Elizabethan theatre]], quickly becoming one of the finest acting spaces in the United Kingdom, and [[The Other Place (theatre)|The Other Place]] theatre. Along with the [[Royal Shakespeare Theatre]] (RST), the Swan Theatre closed in 2007 for refurbishment and reopened in November 2010. The Other Place, a [[Black box theatre]], was extended to become the temporary [[Courtyard Theatre|RSC Courtyard Theatre]], opening in July 2006 and was the home of the RSC while the RST was being refurbished – its interior is similar to the interior of the refurbished RST. The Courtyard Theatre closed in 2015 and was replaced by The Other Place in March 2016, which returned as a 200-seat studio theatre within the steel extension in which the Courtyard Theatre was located.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Chalmers|first1=Amanda|title=Celebration brings down curtain at Courtyard|url=http://www.stratford-herald.com/31560-celebration-brings-down-curtain-at-courtyard.html|website=Stratford-herald.com|access-date=9 January 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126131346/http://www.stratford-herald.com/31560-celebration-brings-down-curtain-at-courtyard.html|archive-date=26 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Shakespeare's The Other Place in Stratford begins revamp|publisher=BBC News|date=10 February 2015|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-31352422|access-date=9 January 2016}}</ref>

Stratford is home to The Bear Pit Theatre which was founded in 2008 as a voluntary organisation. It has 100 seats and is part of the [[Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain|Little Theatre Guild]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Local arts – centre stage – Stratford Town Trust|url=http://www.stratfordtowntrust.co.uk/news/putting-local-arts-centre-stage/|website=Stratford Town Trust|access-date=15 November 2016|archive-date=16 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116020228/http://www.stratfordtowntrust.co.uk/news/putting-local-arts-centre-stage/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford upon Avon|url=http://www.amblesideguesthouse.co.uk/news/?p=501|website=Ambleside News and Reviews|access-date=15 November 2016|date=30 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="History of The Bear Pit">{{cite news|url=https://www.thebearpit.org.uk/about-us/history/|title=History of The Bear Pit|newspaper=The Bear Pit |publisher=Bear Pit Theatre|access-date=25 March 2019}}</ref> The Attic Theatre is Stratford-upon-Avon's premiere fringe [[theatre]]. Established by husband-and-wife team John-Robert and Catherine Partridge and in 2009, who also run the award-winning Tread The Boards Theatre Company.<ref name="The Attic Theatre history">{{cite web|url=https://www.theattictheatre.co.uk/our-history|title=Our history|publisher=The Attic Theatre|access-date=25 March 2019}}</ref> The venue is located next door to Cox's Yard and hosts an intimate 90-seat auditorium in the [[listed building|Grade 2]] listed Attic space.<ref name="The Attic Theatre history"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Tread the Boards Theatre {{!}} Attic Theatre Stratford-Upon-Avon {{!}} Shakespeare's England|url=http://shakespeares-england.co.uk/tread-boards-theatre-company|website=shakespeares-england.co.uk|access-date=15 November 2016|archive-date=16 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116020829/http://shakespeares-england.co.uk/tread-boards-theatre-company|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Waterside Theatre]], which is not part of the [[Royal Shakespeare Theatre]] complex, re-opened in December 2004, then closed in September 2008. During this span, the theatre housed the Shakespearience visitor attraction.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7597621.stm|title=Theatre shuts in Shakespeare town|date=4 September 2008|access-date=10 September 2008}}</ref> This has now been turned into the Clore Learning Centre, the Royal Shakespeare Company's education and events venue. In 1988, Stratford-upon-Avon was the venue for the disastrous provincial try-out of the ill-fated musical ''[[Carrie (musical)|Carrie]]'', based on the [[Carrie (novel)|Stephen King novel]].

===Filming and television===
[[File:Royal_Shakespeare_Theatre_aerial_photograph_4.jpg|thumb|A view over Stratford with the [[River Avon, Warwickshire|River Avon]] and the [[Royal Shakespeare Theatre]]]]
The town is the setting of the 2018 [[BBC]] detective show ''[[Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators]]''.

=== Music ===
Stratford ArtsHouse, previously the Civic Hall, is home to [[Orchestra of the Swan]], a professional chamber orchestra staging up to 10 orchestral concerts with international soloists per year.<ref>{{cite web|title=ArtsHouse, Stratford Upon Avon {{!}} Theatre Tickets, whats on and theatre information|url=http://www.theatresonline.com/theatres/stratford-upon-avon-theatres/artshouse-theatre/index.html|website=Theatresonline.com|access-date=15 November 2016}}</ref> Kempe Studio of The [[Rudolf Kempe]] Society, whose patron is [[Judi Dench|Dame Judi Dench]], is based in a house at 58 Waterside called The [[Muses]] and hosts musical events and masterclass lessons.<ref>{{cite web|title=Society – The Rudolf Kempe Society|url=http://www.rudolfkempesociety.org/society|website=Rudolfkempesociety.org|access-date=15 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Chris|title=Learn from the best!|url=http://www.stratford-herald.com/56960-learn-from-the-best.html|website=Stratford Herald|access-date=15 November 2016|date=12 August 2016}}</ref> No. 1 [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] Street holds regular evenings of live music.<ref>{{cite web|title=No.1 Shakespeare Street, Stratford Upon Avon|url=https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Stratford-upon-avon/No.1-Shakespeare-Street/|website=Skiddle.com|access-date=15 November 2016}}</ref>

=== Museums and Shakespeare's houses ===
Tudor World is a museum which explores the time when Shakespeare lived. It is based in a [[listed building|Grade II*]] listed town centre [[Tudor architecture|Tudor building]] and is the only museum in the country dedicated to Tudor times. Every week there is a walk around the town with Shakespeare.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tudor World {{!}} Day Out with the Kids|url=http://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/family-fun/Tudor_World/1838|website=Dayoutwiththekids.co.uk|access-date=15 November 2016}}</ref> The Mechanical Art and Design museum, but better known as MAD museum, is a museum in Henley Street of "brilliant-but-bonkers machines" made by [[Kinetic artists]]. Items on show include mechanised flipbooks and a musical typewriter.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Potter|first1=Claire|title=Take the kids to … the MAD museum, Stratford-upon-Avon|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/feb/09/mad-musuem-stratford-upon-avon-day-trips-take-the-kids|website=The Guardian|access-date=15 November 2016|date=9 February 2016}}</ref>

There are five houses relating to William Shakespeare's life which are owned and cared for by the [[Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]]. These include [[Hall's Croft]], the one-time home of Shakespeare's daughter, [[Susanna Hall|Susanna]], and her husband [[John Hall (physician)|Dr. John Hall]] and [[Nash's House]], which stands alongside the site of [[New Place]] which was owned by Shakespeare himself, wherein he died. In [[Shottery]] is [[Anne Hathaway's Cottage]], the home of [[Anne Hathaway (Shakespeare)|Shakespeare's wife]]'s family prior to her marriage. [[Mary Shakespeare|Mary Arden]]'s House ([[Palmer's Farm]]), the family home of his mother, is in [[Wilmcote]].

Elsewhere in the district are farms and buildings at [[Snitterfield]], that belonged to the family of Shakespeare's father. [[King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon|King Edward VI School]], located on the corner of Church Street and [[Chapel]] Lane, is a [[grammar school]] thought to have been attended by Shakespeare. In 2016, the school room where Shakespeare is believed to have studied opened to visitors.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kennedy|first1=Maev|title=Shakespeare's school to open to visitors to celebrate 400th anniversary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/apr/20/shakespeares-school-to-open-to-visitors-to-celebrate-400th-anniversary|website=The Guardian|access-date=16 November 2016|date=20 April 2016}}</ref>

=== Literature ===
Stratford has one library, located in Henley Street within a medieval building.<ref name="HistoricSpine" /> Since 2008, Stratford has hosted the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival, which holds two literary events a year, with one event in spring and a shorter festival in autumn.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sutherland|first1=Gill|title=Great line-up for autumn Stratford Literary Festival|url=http://www.stratford-herald.com/57962-great-line-autumn-stratford-literary-festival.html|website=Stratford Herald|access-date=16 November 2016|date=1 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Sutherland|first1=Gill|title=EXCLUSIVE: Literary Festival line-up revealed|url=http://www.stratford-herald.com/47081-exclusive-literary-festival-line-up-revealed.html|website=Stratford Herald|access-date=16 November 2016|date=25 January 2016}}</ref> The festival has talks from celebrity guests, workshops and educational programmes and has become one of the most noted literary festivals in the country,<ref>{{cite web|title=Stratford Upon Avon Literary Festival. Dates, details, directions, authors.|url=http://www.literaryfestivals.co.uk/stratfordliterary.html|website=Literaryfestivals.co.uk|access-date=16 November 2016|archive-date=16 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116231201/http://www.literaryfestivals.co.uk/stratfordliterary.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> with speakers including: [[Kirsty Wark]], [[Alan Johnson MP]], [[Baroness Shirley Williams]], [[Tom Kerridge]], [[Sir Tim Rice]], [[John McCarthy (journalist)|John McCarthy]], [[Michael Rosen]], [[Howard Jacobson]], [[Jeffrey Archer]], [[Michael Palin]], [[Jeremy Paxman]], [[Alastair Campbell]] and [[Paul Merton]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Literary Festival Archive {{!}} Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival|url=http://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/article/the-archive|website=Stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk|access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref>

===Shakespeare's celebrations===
Every year, Shakespeare's birthday is celebrated in Stratford. The celebration takes place over two days on the weekend closest to 26 April, the date of his christening, and includes musical performances, drama and a parade through the town.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Witts|first1=Preston|title=A big party planned for Shakespeare's birthday|url=http://www.stratford-herald.com/34692-a-big-party-planned-for-shakespeares-birthday.html|website=Stratford-herald.com|access-date=7 January 2016|archive-date=19 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219184347/http://www.stratford-herald.com/34692-a-big-party-planned-for-shakespeares-birthday.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2016, events were held in Stratford to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death.<ref name="G1">{{cite web|last1=Kennedy|first1=Maev|title=Shakespeare's 400th anniversary: 'man of Stratford' to be celebrated in 2016|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/jan/01/shakespeares-400th-anniversary-man-of-stratford-to-be-celebrated-in-2016|website=The Guardian|date=January 2016|access-date=7 January 2016}}</ref>

=== Pubs ===
[[The Garrick Inn, Stratford-upon-Avon|The Garrick Inn]] is reputedly the oldest [[pub]] in Stratford, with an inn existing on the site since medieval times.<ref>{{cite web|title=Garrick Inn, Stratford-upon-Avon {{!}} Historic Stratford Guide|url=http://www.britainexpress.com/counties/warwickshire/az/Stratford/Garrick-Inn.htm|website=Britain Express|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pubs in Stratford-Upon-Avon – The Garrick Pub {{!}} Old English Inns|url=https://www.oldenglishinns.co.uk/our-locations/the-garrick-stratford-upon-avon|website=Oldenglishinns.co.uk|access-date=3 February 2017|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042723/https://www.oldenglishinns.co.uk/our-locations/the-garrick-stratford-upon-avon|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[The Dirty Duck, Stratford-upon-Avon|The Dirty Duck]], located along Waterside, is a popular pub for actors performing at the nearby [[Royal Shakespeare Company|RSC]] [[theatre]]s.<ref name="Telegraph_DirtyDuck"/> For the last ten years, the [[Campaign for Real Ale]] (CAMRA) has held a [[cider]] and [[beer festival]] in the town.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lugg|first1=Ben|title=Mayor pulls first pint at Stratford Beer and Cider Festival|url=http://www.stratford-herald.com/53725-mayor-pulls-first-pint-stratford-beer-cider-festival.html|website=Stratford Herald|access-date=16 November 2016|date=10 June 2016}}</ref>

===Local media===
Local news and television programmes is provided by [[BBC West Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]]. Television signals are received either from the Lark Stoke<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Lark_Stoke|title=Lark Stoke (Gloucestershire, England) Full Freeview transmitter|date=May 2004}}</ref> or [[Sutton Coldfield transmitting station|Sutton Coldfield]] TV transmitters.
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Sutton_Coldfield|title=Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitter|date=May 2004}}</ref>

The town's local radio stations are [[BBC CWR]] on 103.7 FM, [[Capital Mid-Counties]] on 102 FM, [[Hits Radio Coventry & Warwickshire]] on 97.0 FM, and Welcombe Radio, a community based radio station.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcombe Radio|url=https://www.welcomberadio.org.uk|website=Welcombe Radio|access-date=25 January 2024}}</ref>

[[Stratford Observer]] and Stratford Herald are the main local newspapers in the town.