Lights, Camera and Action!

Improvements to footpaths through the RSC's Theatre Gardens and the River Avon ferry platform have now been completed.  Funded by Advantage West Midlands through the World Class Stratford initiative and also by Stratford District Council, there is now a step-free route from the Royal Shakespeare and Swan Theatres to Old Town and the Centenary Gardens.

Many residents and visitors will be pleased to see that the Heritage lighting columns removed from Waterside in 2008 have been re-installed to light the way along the Theatre Gardens' paths. They have been carefully restored and painted in their original colours to provide a useful and attractive addition to the route.  The work has been completed in partnership with Warwickshire County Council and the RSC, who offered their gardens for the lighting collection when suitable sites were being sought.   

The scheme also includes a new viewing platform adjacent to the 'nine men's morris' feature in the Theatre Gardens, which provides new vistas up and down the River Avon and across to the Recreation Ground.

The completed scheme provides an accessible and tranquil riverside route with the option of using the recently restored ferry across the Avon to access the Recreation Ground, with special ramps for wheelchair users and people with prams and pushchairs.

Sir William Lawrence Bt., Chairman of Stratford District Council, a wheelchair user himself,  said: "The scheme now provides a delightful and level route for everyone, without the steps and narrow passageways that often caused 'bottlenecks' and obstructions."

Vikki Heywood, the RSC's Executive Director, said "The RSC is very pleased to provide a new home for the heritage lights and we are delighted with the overall scheme which forms a very pleasant riverside route which we hope everyone can enjoy. The design complements the RSC's Transformation Project and a new step-free route will soon be complete all the way from Tramway Bridge, past the RSC theatres, to the Centenary Gardens."

Deputy Leader of Stratford District Council Cllr Sue Wixey commented:  "The District Council was delighted to be able to support the installation of the lights in response to the positive consultation received for relocating them to the Gardens. They provide an attractive and practical addition to the route, which will help to support the town's evening economy by providing a further 'after hours' attraction for residents and visitors to enjoy."

Background Information 

"Malvolio" which has been crossing the River Avon in Stratford-upon-Avon since 1937, underwent a major and much needed re-fit which included the provision of mobile accessibility ramps. 

The route was largely inaccessible, for people with wheelchairs and pushchairs, due to steps and narrow passageways that caused frequent 'bottlenecks', particularly around the Ferry area.

The columns and lanterns originated in the town in the 1980s following an initiative with the RSC and Warwickshire County Council whereby a number of columns were donated from other towns and cities within the UK and internationally.

The scheme and the heritage lighting installation in particular, has been positively supported by the World Class Stratford Community Forum comprising representatives of key community organisations in the town. They had stressed the need for the lights to be concentrated in a specific area to help show that they form a collection.