The recent performance of King Lear here in the Embassy Theatre was warmly received by both schools and the public alike. We have been inundated with comments and it has been wonderful to see this collaborative partnership so warmly embraced by the local area.
“Our children loved the experience and it was certainly wonderful to see their excitement and enthusiasm”.
“Today really has enhanced the children’s experience of Shakespeare”.
“One of our teachers enjoyed it so much she booked to go back and watch with her teenage daughter”.
“Most of us have never been to the theatre before! Some of us have seen a pantomime – so this was a really new experience”.
The performance of King Lear was watched by over 750 students, adults and theatre patrons, allowing Shakespeare’s work to continue to inspire the next generation of theatre-goers, writers and also, those who work so hard on stage and behind the scenes. The venue welcomed over 200 school children to the dedicated schools performance with one school travelling fifty miles!
If you have any feedback for us, please do drop us a line: embassytheatre@mvtlc.org
The Embassy Theatre and the wider Magna Vitae team are delighted to have formed a long-term working partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company that will benefit our local communities for generations.
SKEGNESS JOINS FORCES WITH THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY – ONE OF FIVE NEW PARTNER TOWNS.
Corby, Coventry, Hartlepool, Peterborough and Skegness join 26 existing areas in long-term partnership with the RSC. The RSC pledges to increase touring activity by 50% by 2026 to areas of structural disadvantage.
Skegness is one of five towns entering a new partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) aimed at raising the aspirations of young people and having a positive impact on their learning, employment opportunities and wellbeing.
In a major expansion of the RSC’s Associate Schools Programme, Skegness will join the Company’s 26 existing country-wide partnerships all in areas of structural disadvantage. Skegness has a local leisure provider, Magna Vitae, and schools from the Greenwood Academies Trust will work with the RSC in an expansion of activity made possible by an Arts Council England touring grant, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation award and Nesta – a foundation which supports a fairer start, healthy lives and sustainable futures. Other partners announced today include Coventry – The Belgrade Theatre; Peterborough – Ormiston Bushfield Academy; Corby – Corby Cube; Hartlepool – St. Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School.
Growing evidence shows that taking part in arts and cultural activities contributes to better mental health and well-being. Skegness has one of the lowest national health outcomes and nearly half the town’s working age population are economically inactive due to poor health. The RSC partnership feeds into local plans to use arts and culture as a tool for regeneration and boosting health, well-being and opportunities for young people.
The Embassy Theatre is delighted to be a part of this wonderful initiative. Here’s to a fruitful future!
Royal Shakespeare Company First Encounters: King Lear
The most recent First Encounters production was King Lear, performed here on Thursday 9th October 2025. A tale familiar to most, this modern interpretation left quite the impression on our audiences.
A king announces that he will divide his kingdom between his three daughters according to how much they love him. Lear thinks he will live out his old age with all of the comforts of kingship, and none of the responsibility. But the eldest two daughters, Goneril & Regan, have other ideas in mind – and he has given away all power to stop them.
His vanity has devastating consequences for family, nation and climate. Our (the RSC’s) First Encounters with Shakespeare production, makes Shakespeare’s play about family, power and betrayal relevant for a new generation of theatre-goers. This 80-minute version of King Lear uses an edited version of the original play to create the perfect introduction for young people aged 7 to 13 and their families.
The tour of First Encounters: King Lear is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, which makes it possible for the RSC to expand its tour to work in partnership with more places across England including proudly, the Embassy Theatre in Skegness.
There’s nothing more inspirational than a good story or a well written tale. It gets the creative juices flowing and also, it allows you to transport yourself into another world – often too, we find it’s even better with a tasty drink to hand as well.
In our Courtyard Cafe, you are welcome to join us for a tasty brew and borrow one of our books – we have the complete works of Shakespeare on our shelves and also, the same titles are available in abridged versions for younger readers too.
Our Courtyard Cafe opens on Wednesdays to Saturdays from 11:00am. Please do come and join us and browse through one of Shakespeare’s books. Our Experience team will happily serve you a drink and a tasty snack to enjoy at the same time too!
There’s more to our cafe space than just Shakespeare though. A host of other popular titles (and also, some you may never have enjoyed) are available to borrow too.
Please visit our Courtyard Cafe for inspiration – your next bedtime story could be waiting on our shelves!
There are also some props and quotes from Shakespeare’s featured plays which we will be highlighting over the course of each season. Keep returning to see which play we’re talking about when you next visit…
If you have some books that have already been lovingly read at home, please do bring them in for others to enjoy. It would be wonderful to see our range grow in the future! Our Courtyard Cafe opens on Wednesdays to Saturdays from 11:00am.
The Embassy Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company are delighted to be working with a number of partner schools throughout the course of this long term collaborative partnership.
The RSC performed King Lear in Skegness Academy, with this venue proudly then, hosting a schools performance at 11:30am on Thursday 9th October before we host a public performance on the same day at 7:00pm.
Contact us for more information. We’d love to hear from more schools with competitively priced seats available for group bookings on any future performances.
Chat to our Experience team: 01754 474100 | embassytheatre@mvtlc.org
There’s something for everyone here at the Embassy Theatre over the course of the entire season and therefore, why not browse our current highlights – from comedy, drama, sport, dancing to world class tribute shows and of course, this year’s annual pantomime spectacular – The Wizard of Oz. Book your seats now. Your Embassy Experience awaits…
