THE SWAN Theatre will not be hiding away during its current £4.8 million restoration.
Scaffolding went up in January around the Grade II-listed Swan Wing – the oldest part of the RSC’s theatres – as part of a project which will see brickwork and lead windows around the entrance to the Swan Theatre given a facelift.
Keen not to see the historic Waterside facade of the theatre hidden away until completion next April, the RSC has put up a massive banner featuring a large photographic replica of what is behind it.
The work will also include the restoration and interpretation of the three exterior bas reliefs by Paul Kummer, which depict stories from Shakespeare of comedy, history and tragedy, and the original stained glass windows which line the Swan Theatre staircase and illustrate the famous lines of the Seven Ages of Man from As You Like It.
The completed project will also see the opening of a new exhibition, which will immerse visitors in the RSC’s rich history and showcase how the company makes its productions.
