RSC Opens New Theatre with Ghostly Tenant???

Amidst the fanfare of today’s (23 November 2010) opening of the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre, part of the RSC’s £112.8 million Stratford redevelopment, details have emerged about the theatre’s unusual first tenant; the ashes of actor Ian Richardson who is buried at the bottom of the central aisle under the first row of seats. A member of the RSC for 15 years, Richardson later found fame in television roles such as politician Francis Urquhart in BBC political thriller House of Cards. Richardson died in his sleep, aged 72, in February 2007. The idea of placing the actor’s ashes in the foundations of the theatre, which has been under redevelopment since 2007, came to the actor’s son Miles when he was touring the site with his mother Maroussia, who was also an RSC member, in 2008. Speaking to the Evening Standard about the placing his father’s ashes Miles, who performed with his father on the old – now demolished – Stratford stage, said: “In perpetuity, my father will be on the front row for every future performance and just where he liked to be, centre stage. And, if you are sitting in row A, you will not be alone.”