Summer at the Royal Shakespeare Company | May 2026

Fitness & Practicalities

The majority of ACE Cultural Tours are active in nature. To make the most of our time in a destination and provide excellent value for money, they are busy – there are often several visits included each day. As such, our tours require a certain minimum level of physical and mental fitness, mobility and stamina.

Many visits will involve navigating several steps, uneven ground, steep ascents and descents, and could involve embarking and disembarking aircraft, coaches, trains and cruise vessels. Plenty of walking, punctuated by lengthy periods of standing, is the norm. Some tours may involve long coach journeys.

It is essential that all customers are sufficiently fit and able enough to fully participate. Furthermore, every tour comprises a group of guests. We cannot allow the entire group to be negatively impacted by one participant, either holding up the pace we reasonably need to maintain or disproportionately requiring the attention and support of the tour staff.

We carefully consider the intensity, fitness and other requirements of each itinerary and describe them on the tour pages of our brochures and website. Please study these descriptions closely. When you call to book, we will reiterate those requirements and ask you to confirm that all group members are indeed fit enough and otherwise able to meet the criteria. It is your responsibility to answer fully and honestly. If it transpires that you are not able to keep pace with the tour and/or it reasonably appears you are negatively impacting (or are reasonably likely to negatively impact) the enjoyment of the rest of the group (including their ability to complete all scheduled visits), we may ask you to sit out certain days/visits, take a taxi at your own expense (if available in the location), or even, if we consider there is no other reasonable alternative, ask you to leave the tour and make your own way home.

Tour specific fitness information

This tour requires a good level of fitness and mobility, and participants should meet ACE’s fitness criteria as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions. Although the distances covered are not long, the tour does involve some walking in Stratford, to and from the hotel, local visits and the theatres (some of which will be done in darkness). The ground can be cobbled and uneven underfoot. Participants should also be prepared for traversing steps and stairs.

Minimum fitness requirements

As a minimum, participants should be able to successfully complete the following self-assessment tests:

• Walk for one hour at a reasonable pace and without needing to take a break to rest
• Climb at least two flights of stairs at a reasonable pace
• Stand unaided for at least 30 minutes
• Stand up and sit down ten times in one minute
• Carry or otherwise move your own luggage

Please ensure you have read and understand our full fitness requirements as described in our terms and conditions.

Day 1

Tour assembles 1630 at the Hotel Indigo, Stratford-upon-Avon, for three nights. Welcome and introduction to the tour followed by dinner-cruise on board The Countess of Evesham (celebrated fine dining restaurant on the River Avon).

Day 2

Morning lecture introducing The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui followed by a guest walking lecture with Dr Paul Edmonson (Head of Research at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust). Afternoon: guided behind-the-scenes access to the auditorium of the RSC. Evening performance at the Swan Theatre: Brecht (Stephen Sharkey version) The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.

Day 3

Morning: post-performance discussion about The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui followed by lecture introducing The Tempest. Continue for excursion to Warwick Castle, followed by the Lord Leycester Hospital (medieval courtyard architecture). Evening performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre: Shakespeare The Tempest.

Day 4

Morning: post-performance discussion about The Tempest followed by guest talk. Tour disperses approx 1130 at the hotel.