H

ow about immersing yourself in the glamorous world of footlights and grease paint with a behind-the-scenes peek into the fabulous Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford?

You’ll get to see all the tricks of the thespian trade first hand, as well as exploring yeolde nooks and crannies that are normally off-limits to the general public.

Your tour begins in the foyer, which has just reopened following a major refurbishment; it transformed the main auditorium into a ‘one-room’ theatre, where the stage is surrounded on three sides by the audience – just as it would have been in Shakespeare’s day.

And for that extra bit of authenticity, the Grade-II listed building is located on the site of the old Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, featuring several Art Deco flourishes – like the rather grand staircase.

After scoping out the actors' dressing rooms and witnessing exactly what goes into putting on a performance (and believe us when we say there's more to it than simply learning your lines), you can enjoy a pre-show drink or dinner in the new rooftop restaurant – which has stunning views of the beautiful old Stratford-Upon-Avon town and the surrounding countryside.

It’s simply wonderful darling.