Shakespeare Unfolded Festival: A celebration of insightful performances and creative exploration at city venue
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
16-21 March 2026
Coinciding with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)’s tour of Hamlet coming to Nottingham’s Theatre Royal from Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 March 2026, the Shakespeare Unfolded Festival will be a week-long celebration of performance, discussion, and creative exploration. From performances and workshops to academic insight and open mic nights, the programme of free events based at the city centre venue will invite audiences to experience Shakespeare’s works in fresh, accessible, and thought-provoking ways.
Rebecca Morris, the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall (TRCH)’s Heritage and Learning Partnerships Manager, said:
“Shakespeare Unfolded is about opening up Shakespeare’s work and inviting people to explore it with curiosity, confidence, and creativity. By offering a festival of participatory and performance events during the run of the RSC’s Hamlet, we’re using this moment to turn the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall into a lively hub of debate, creativity and exploration. Shakespeare is deeply embedded in our cultural fabric, yet his work can sometimes feel distant or intimidating, and this festival creates space both for those who already love the plays and for those who are curious to discover whether Shakespeare might speak to them, too. We’re also delighted to be able to offer these events to our audiences at no cost, thanks to our partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company and funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation”
Festival Programme
-
Monday 16 March, Theatre Royal Dress Circle Foyer, 7pm-9:30pm
Will and Testament: A performance by the Theatre Royal Players
-
Tuesday 17 March, Theatre Royal Dress Circle Foyer, 1pm-2pm
Live at Lunch Talk: Shakespeare on Screen
-
Tuesday 17 March, Nelsons Studio, 7pm-9pm
Stagecraft Studio Workshop: Dissecting a Scene
-
Wednesday 18 March, Theatre Royal Dress Circle Foyer, 12pm-2pm
Live at Lunch Talk: The Merchant of Venice: A 21st Century Conversation In collaboration with the National Holocaust Centre
-
Thursday 19 March, Theatre Royal Dress Circle Foyer, 12pm-1pm
Live at Lunch Talk: Hamlet in Context: Academic Perspectives An illustrated talk on Shakespeare’s authorship
-
Thursday 19 March, Theatre Royal Auditorium
Post-Show talk with members of the Royal Shakespeare Company Hamlet cast for members of the audience
-
Friday 20 March, Theatre Royal Upper Circle Foyer, 6pm
Pre-show talk on Shakespeare’s Hamlet and this production
-
Saturday 21 March, Nelsons Studio 10am-12pm
Music and Performance Workshop: The Soundtrack of Shakespeare’s Stage
-
Saturday 21 March, Nelsons Studio, 7pm-9:30pm
Open Mic Night: Impromptu pop-up Shakespeare performances -
Throughout the Week
– Two art exhibitions installed in the Theatre Royal’s foyer spaces
– An exhibition of artwork created in response to Shakespeare by students from the venue’s Associate Schools
– A display of artefacts and timelines featuring Shakespeare throughout the venue’s history led by heritage volunteers
– Interactive workshops and exploring Shakespeare sessions in schools
– Films created by Associate Schools and the Nottingham Rebels to be played out across the week in the venue’s foyer spaces
For more information including booking details please visit www.trch.co.uk/shakespeare-unfolded-festival
Posted on 02 February 2026
