Adam Matthew Digital to publish RSC archives

Publisher Adam Matthew Digital is working with the Royal Shakespeare Company to digitise parts of the organisation’s archive and make them accessible to academics.

The collaboration will include prompt books and other materials from over two centuries of performances, currently housed at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon. Used by directors and stage managers at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 1889 until 2013, the prompt books include acclaimed productions such as Peter Brook’s 1970 "A Midsummer Night’s Dream", alongside stagings of key 20th and 21st century playwrights.

Resources also include costume bibles, programmes, music folders, performance photographs and production files containing rehearsal notes, show reports, cast and props lists.

Claudine Nightingale, publisher at Adam Matthew Digital, said: “The RSC archive is a fantastic tool for students and researchers. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring these unique materials, which give detailed insight into landmark productions from modern theatre history, to the global academic community.”

Geraldine Collinge, director of events and exhibitions at the RSC, added: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Adam Matthew Digital to make our archive more available online to scholars and academics. It is wonderful to be able to open up further access to some of the gems in our archive in Stratford-upon-Avon."