The Swan Theatre — Attraction in Stratford-on-Avon

The Swan gives you an alternative venue for the RSC in Stratford. Rather than the old fashioned, which is to say twentieth century proscenium arch, you have theatre in the oblong, which is almost as good as theatre in the round. The galleries all above the stage give you a sense of a real Shakespearean venue circa 1604, if not quite as well as the Globe on the South bank. The recent productions I have seen there have all been good. Timon of Athens was excellent. It is not a great Shakespeare play. It is more of a sketch than a vast tapestry of life. However, some of the speeches are utterly compelling. There are a couple of passages i shall have to open up and study carefully. Timon and her servants are very well played. The high point at the end of the first half is truly memorable. It is the director and his crew who win the highest marks from me though. From the pre-performance dancing to the very end the drama is is brilliantly staged. I must go away and find out more about this. I really liked the way one tableau after another unfolded and before us seamlessly then melted into...

I really used to love the Swan, but it seems to have lost its way from its original mission. The production of 'Much a do about nothing' tonight was well acted, but had more in common with a West End Show than a Shakespear production. The costumes, music, dance and the interpretation were all very alternative and not vaguely historical or even close to the period.

I left after the first half and felt that I had been ripped off. My wife on the other hand enjoyed it. Nothing wrong with the acting, but it was one of those Emperor's new clothes ... it just wasn't Shakespeare for me. It certainly was not worth the price or the label RSC.

In terms of facilities the Swan is World Class but if you want a proper Shakespearean or Jacobin experience, don't go here. The little pop up Shakespearean theaters in York or Lincoln are far...

Great venue, with not a bad seat in the house really. No-one is very far from the action on stage in this intimate and atmospheric space. Mind you that very advantage proved a little bit nerve-wracking for those in the front row during the performance of the Duchess of Malfi... as a large pool of blood grew and grew... ever nearer the edge of the stage.

It's a beautiful theatre in which to watch a play, with a lovely acoustic - so easy to be drawn into the performance. Having praised the seating, maybe just be careful about the back row of the first and second tiers - if they have those high-chair-like they favoured at the Courtyard theatre a few years ago... they are really uncomfortable. Don't know... I favour the Ground... but worth checking.

Come, enjoy this theatre -...