Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon is a town in England primarily known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare and the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). The RSC is a major British theatre company dedicated to performing Shakespeare's plays and other works. Stratford-upon-Avon is newsworthy due to the RSC's recent announcement that they will be staging a prequel to George RR Martin's *Game of Thrones* this summer, titled *Game of Thrones: The Mad King*. Martin himself stated the RSC was the “obvious choice” for this production. Additionally, the RSC is collaborating with the band Placebo, who are composing the score for a new production of Bertolt Brecht's *The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui*. This play, directed by Mark Gatiss, is a historical allegory of Adolf Hitler's rise to power. These high-profile productions and collaborations highlight the RSC's continued significance as a leading force in British theatre and Stratford-upon-Avon's importance as a cultural center.