As someone who loves the Shakespeare Library as a whole (and frequently goes there for shows) this is exclusively a rating for their afternoon tea. The tea has been lauded as amazing on instagram so when reservations went live in December, I booked our April tea before it sold out in 15 minutes. Directions to finding the room for it, are not clear. Despite what you see in social media, this is in a small room with just quite a few tables - not in their famous cafe. You are given bagged tea (not the brand listed on their menu), and your tray is brought over almost immediately upon seating. It was not explained what any of it was like traditionally is done. The food is TINY, and you barely get a single bite out of each. We didn't receive nor were we offered refills of cream or jam, despite there being four of us. We had the 3PM slot and pretty much everyone was rushed out after an hour. We spent some time just talking at our table and were the last ones there despite it not being closed. We felt very unwelcome by the time we left at 4:30. You pay $85 per person and there are WAY better teas in DC that are cheaper. I would never bring anyone here for their tea, what a disappointment. read more

Folger Shakespeare Library - Tea tray for four - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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As you like it production: If you're visiting DC and want to catch a Shakespeare production in an intimate, character-filled theater, this is your place. Their production of As You Like It deserves real praise -- it was funny, engaging, creative, and performed by a very talented cast. What made it especially memorable was the modern-day, DC-inspired interpretation, which gave the play fresh energy while still honoring the spirit of Shakespeare. The cast was lively and audience-engaging in a way that made the whole experience feel immersive rather than foreign. And the theater itself? A gem. In true Shakespeare fashion, it's small and intimate, which makes every seat feel close to the action. The architecture is part of the charm -- rich wood columns, beautiful preserved details, and a space that feels historic in all the right ways. Arrive early to visit the museum. They offer a snack bar with bites and beverages, though fair warning: it's on the pricey side. Overall, a really enjoyable evening and a wonderful pick for theater lovers who appreciate strong performances and a venue with soul. read more

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If you're looking for something a little outside of the Smithsonian's beaten path, this is a great museum with a different vibe. It's free, which is great, and it has the largest printed collection of Shakespeare's works in the world. It's got a few interesting exhibits including art inspired by his works and replica printing press which they describe how it works. There is also a large cafe with beautiful old English wooden decor and a library with Shakespearean books you can look at. There is also a theater that does productions, but when we went, a docent described the recreation of the room to fit the Tudor style. They also have events like afternoon tea, and those seem to sell out quickly. I would say overall it doesn't take that long to see the exhibits, so it's like an hour or two of your time, but it's different from things you'll see around the other numerous museums. It's got good things to offer. read more

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Afternoon Tea: My friend and I enjoyed a classically British afternoon tea in the gorgeous historic Founders Room. We were in awe of the stained glass windows and thick tablecloths. I've had high tea in London and I think this one is overpriced, but I'd recommend it for a special occasion. The scones are mini, but I loved the delicate flavors of the asparagus tart. The library itself definitely has a wow factor, and they have British snacks available to purchase right outside in the coffee area! The Shakespeare galleries were designed in an authentic manner to match how viewers would experience galleries in Shakespeare's time. read more

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Gorgeous library very close to the capital building with a cafe, gift shop, and art/history exhibits. Free admission but $15 donation is highly recommended. Lots of tables to work or study. The food at Quill & Crumb cafe is very good! read more

Folger Shakespeare Library - Outside - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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There's few places more beautiful in DC to sit and wait for your best friend who is always on your last nerve and making things impossibly difficult for no reason and was there before you but somehow still got there after you. At least I got to sit in that amazing upstairs lounge cafe area and talk up some other people also waiting on their late friends. Once we got inside the theater it was awesome. One thing I don't know anything about is Shakespeare, but evidently the theater is remodeled to look like some historic Shakespeare situation. Globe Hotel or something whatever, the guy who doesn't make good coffee sure has an amazing "library" (did I miss the books? I was there at night for a show) in the nation's capital. Highly recommend a visit. read more

Folger Shakespeare Library - WOW - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Had a productive weekend here with my girlies. The pastries and coffee was really good! The only thing is the seating. Highly recommended getting there early to secure a table. The lady managing the area was a little rude, but gave grace because she was solo and seemed a bit overstimulated (which we felt as well). The library is also closed on the weekend, so that was a bummer. Attached my video below ! read more

Folger Shakespeare Library - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Had a lovely time at this wonderfully free monument to "words, words, words." As we were there during a slow time, we did not do the timed-reservation entry and the place was nearly empty, so it worked out for us! What I also did was register in advance to be a "researcher" so we could go into the Reading Room. It was a stunning room full of old wooden shelves and tables, beautiful stained glass windows, and ancient tomes of wisdom! We also went downstairs into the open stacks and wandered around for a while. Jim G. and I weren't actually there to research, but it always feels like home to be around physical texts and people who love them! Everyone who worked there was very friendly. The space itself was much smaller than I imagined it would be, but it's a must-visit for any bibliophile visiting DC. I hear the theatre is pretty great, though we didn't have time to check that out; next time! read more

My husband said the visit to this museum was the highlight of our trip! It is definitely an impressive collection. Entrance to the museum doesn't really stand out as it is below street level, so I was thankful for the signage directing you to the door. Apparently this museum was recently renovated and it is really nice inside. If you have Shakespeare fans in the family, it is a must see, as the collection is staggering. Admittance is free or you can opt to make a donation when you select your tickets. I personally enjoyed some of the other non-Shakespeare items the Folger's acquired that were on display, such as Wizard of Oz and Peter Rabbit, to name a few. read more

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The Folger recently reopened after a renovation, and I visited with friends a few weeks ago. The Folger contains the world's largest Shakespeare collection, so it's a must visit for Shakespeare lovers! Sadly, the Reading Room (one of the library's main draws, it's supposed to be beautiful) was closed for the day (for an event they were hosting). But we were able to visit the exhibition galleries and explore the building a bit! The library has a great cafe, as well. We learned a little about Shakespeare, had some fun at an interactive display or two, and bought a play from the gift shop. I'm definitely planning on returning to visit the Reading Room and see a performance (they produce plays and concerts in their theater space, which also looks beautiful)! read more

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Such a cute cafe for a museum and theater! Highly recommend sitting down, grabbing a pastry, and people watch! Very nice staff, and the museum is free!! read more

Folger Shakespeare Library - Cafe - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The Folger Theatre, after years of renovation, has reopened! What a beautiful theatre with personality! They celebrated their grand reopening with Tamilla Woodard's Winter's Tale, the play with the famous stage direction "exit, pursued by a bear." The whole space is beautiful, elegant, and both modern and classic, with the warmth of wood. First, you go underground to the Adams Pavilion (the new entrance is now underground). You'd be greeted by a spacious new lobby (the old theatre basically had no lobby space). There are about 3-4 ticket windows (also better than before). There is a small gift shop. All restrooms are now gender neutral. Basically the common space and sinks are shared by people of all genders. There are a series of stalls, all with walls and doors from floor to ceiling, so each one felt like its own little room. Then, you go up a staircase to the Great Hall and the theatre itself. The staircase is adorned by a beautiful "chandelier." Adorning the staircase to the Great Hall and Folger Theatre (from Adams Pavilion) is German artist Anke Neumann's light sculpture, Cloud of Imagination. The 15-ft long chandelier consists of 250 hand-made individual paper components. More than a hundred bundles of optical fibers support and illuminate the paper shapes. The theatre stage and auditorium have not been touched by the renovation. Everything looked and felt the same as before. read more

A book lovers dream destination! I have made many trips to DC but never had the time to visit the Folger Shakespeare library. The staff and volunteers are wonderful. Special shout out to docent Maureen! She is very kind and knowledgable. Greatly enjoyed my time in each gallery. Lots of books, manuscripts, and items to see. Washrooms are very nice. Gift shop is super cute. Reading room and main gallery are breathtaking! Looking forward to returning for a play on my next trip. read more

Folger Shakespeare Library - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Cyndy's Bottom Line: All about Shakespeare and more. Hours: Sundays: 11am - 6pm* Mondays: Closed Tuesday and Wednesday: 11am - 6pm* Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: 11am - 9pm *Free admission. with suggested donation *Timed entry online with a suggested donation. *Walk-in visitors as building capacity allows. *Limited street parking *Public transportation recommended. Near south capitol metro. +The Folger Shakespeare Library, which houses the world's largest Shakespeare collection, reopened after a four-year and 80 million dollar renovation. +A world-class collection and the works of William Shakespeare. +An amazing exhibit of The First Folio of Shakespeare, published in 1623. +Interesting exhibits and commissioned art work +See the newly commissioned light and paper, Cloud of Imagination sculpture by German artist Anke Neumann. *Highly recommend a visit. read more

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Beautiful. Just beautiful. The exhibits were really interesting. I felt like I was in a book studying here. The cafe was very conveniently located and OMG the pastries were to die for. Can't wait to come back. read more

This library was nice. Once I heard about it opening I had to check it out since I heard it was pretty inside. It's small & they're still working on parts of its old the cafe but some people were already studying or working in there so it's definitely functional. Not much of a book person but I could see a book lover appreciating this library. read more

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Visited for the first time last night to see the Where We Belong Show. The theater was beautiful and the staff were extremely helpful. The check in staff was able to reprint a friend's ticket when she was unable to find her QR code to scan in. I will definitely return to see other shows. read more

Folger Shakespeare Library - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Loved this place! The museum was so fun and interactive. And they had such a great collection of first edition books including lord of the rings and the wicks are of oz. The cafe upstairs was great too. I don't live in D.C. but hopefully can come here again one day. read more

Folger Shakespeare Library - Wizard of Oz book - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I got the chance to see the one-woman show, "We Belong", shortly after the theatre reopened after renovations. The theatre is so beautiful and the architecture is breathtaking. The show was quite powerful and very thought-provoking, and I was engaged from beginning to end. It was an amazing experience as my first show at the Folger Theatre. read more

Last fall, the performance I had paid for was cancelled due to performer illness. I have yet to have my money refunded nor have I been contacted to reschedule for another performance. read more

My wife and I just saw a production of Twelfth Night at the Folger. Although I have posted here, I am doing so again. The facility underweant a major renovation. While it was always good, it is physically much more impressive. It is worth heading over before the show to see the exhibits, or, if you happen to be early there are displays that are museum quality (well, it is an educational institution after all, an extension of Amherst College, among the nation's finest liberal arts college). The shop peddles their editions. That is to be expected, and the truth is I am tempted despite not being in the classroom anymore to purchase a set of the teaching guides. The specific play we saw was great. We have seen that comedy before. This version emphasized the gender play. It was not for family viewing, unless your household was much more liberal minded than my parent's, boisterous and hilarious. The exception to the tone is the abuse of Malvolio. But even that was amazing for how the actor stole every scene, staying in character during an unintended pratfall. The Post had a review I cannot improve on. That director, with that cast, should be hired again. I believe the last show I took in before their construction work, prior to the pandemic, was Amadeus. That was excellent as well. For that matter, I cannot say I have been disappointed. They skew toward accessible. That is fine by me. Years ago, we saw the Teller (of Penn & fame) version of Macbeth with magic tricks, and a Much Ado About Nothing set in an Italian American pizzeria, the brother who shows up in a single scene replaced with a wife who was busy sweeping and silent but for a single line, to positive effect (that substituion is to be commended, and of the Ados I've seen on stage, it was the best). The seats are cramped and creaky. You can get a splinter from the wood. That is a minor complaint. Permit the cavil to be offset by a non-criticism. They warn about obstructed sightlines. That is not a problem for the most part (it could be at the most extreme, on the sides, but up in the balcony those are fine too), and they discount those options. Note this is not the same as the Shakespeare Theatre over in Penn Quarter. Long ago, in the last century, they were affiliated. If I recall, that Shakespeare began at the Folger. They are complementary rather than competitive. (The Folger is not LORT.) But if you are careless, you could confuse them and head to the wrong venue. All in all, I have to say as a regular theatregoer but not currently a full time resident of the Capitol, a fan of live performance will benefit from the range of offerings in the city. read more

The portraits,, the interactive displays, the historical narratives, and the fascinating people I met there. !!

I only saw the outside but it and the garden areas look very promising for a late spring visit. I will get timed entry to see the collection more easily. read more

Very disappointed with the new renovations. Only unisex bathrooms are offered which were very unwelcoming. No concerns for privacy, modesty, hygiene or safety for women - no privacy or modesty for men. This off putting agenda is further carried out with a divisive 'indigenous Indian tribe acknowledgement' announcement. What would have been far more appropriate and uniting would be the acknowledgment that it was the works of the great English Bard Shakespeare, his impact on culture, ending legacy, and his legions of admirers and benefactors which are the sole reason for the Folger Shakespeare theater to even exist. This was then followed by a poorly casted and directed Shakespearean play with nearly every actor - save one - who were below average and did not make their words ring true and especially poor phrasing. read more

This venue eliminated seperate male and female bathrooms. Both females I was with during the show felt very uncomfortable in the unisex bathroom. Seeing men in her bathroom was jarring. She didn't feel comfortable talking with female companion. No sound safety for women inserting tampons or usung pads. She didn't feel safe since men have a history of planting cameras I'm unisex bathrooms. No privacy feeling. It's sucks for men too. No urinals are available because it's unisex. I don't want to reach and touch a toilet seat when I'm not taking a dump in these ongoing covid times. Will take my business to Shakespeare Theater Company as they are more respectful of women with having separate gender bathrooms. As for the land acknowledgement, if they really think the land is stolen they should return it to modern tribal members. It's their land, not yours. Stop virtue signaling. Give it back! Give it back! read more

For years, I've walked by Folger Shakespeare Library admiring its impressive Greek style building, but never thinking to go in. This past week, I rectified that and went on a tour of their exhibit. It's very small, but well worth the 30-60 minutes spent. Here's why: 1) The staff are very friendly! Someone will show you around and then you're free to explore as you wish. 2) It's very kid friendly. There are coloring books, an interactive exhibit, kids' books, and even a place to play dress up. Kids will love it! 3) The art is impressive. It's mainly very old art, but there is one beautiful modern art piece of Shakespeare. 4) The Reading Room for the scholars is beautiful. You can't go in or take photos except for Saturdays at noon. Well worth it. 5) There's a theater in the back modeled after The Globe in London and holds regular shows. If you have a spare hour, definitely stop by Folger Shakespeare Library/Theater! It's a hidden gem of DC! read more

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I attended an evening function here during the American Library Association Annual Conference, and was amazed! What a beautiful building! I especially liked the theater! It was wonderful to see all the books, too. Wow, wow, wow! read more

Folger Shakespeare Library - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is awesome place to visit if you crave libraries, books, architecture, knowledge. Very significant from any angle: histrorical, aesthethic, architectural. Churchill's Shakespeare exhibition just adds to the enjoyable experience. Docents lead tours, very expert and knowledgeable. Not for everyone of course, only if you are truly interested in those things. read more

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What a perfect setting for a Shakespeare production! Not too large, Hood accoustics. Highly recommended.

The theatre is intimate, but very nice. The look, feel and layout are modeled after The Globe Theatre, Shakespeare's infamous theatre in London. It's a cool experience seeing Shakespeare performed live in theatre designed for exactly that. The theatre shows around 3 shows per season. The theatre is small enough the actors don't wear mics. The layout of the set gives almost every seat in the house a different perspective on the action. There is also a few exhibit halls in the library that are open to theatre goers before and after the show. My wife and I recently saw the Timon of Athens at the theatre. It was a different take on a classic play, but really well done. The quality of acting, directing and set design was all top notch. I would warn against sitting in the balcony seats on the right and left hand side if you can help it (Row R, C price level). There is a 2 foot high wood railing that blocks half the stage from view. We sat in Row R, seats 7 and 9 and it was kind of hard to see. We ended up changing seats after the first few minutes of the play. The B price level isn't that much more expensive and the difference in view will be well worth it. Overall a great night of theatre and culture. read more

Folger Shakespeare Library - View of the stage from the balcony - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Recently attended an amazing poetry event event at the Folger Shakespeare Library/ Folger Theatre. The poetry/writers organization is Cave Caneman. The library is located minutes from Capital Hill where the residential neighborhood begins. There is residential parking, however limited to two hours until 8:30 pm. While walking down the hallways, you could feel literature and a sense of historical importance in the air. The theatre is the perfect size. You have a great view from any angle, not too large, very intimate. The people working there were very polite and helpful. I definitely would love to return and will keep my eye out for additional, literary enriching events. In this day and time of facebook and every type of social media, I really feel as though I need to read an old, historical book!! read more

Spent a small fortune for tickets. Uber driver spent about 20 min. driving around LoC buildings, and could not find the right bldg. Dropped me off at Jefferson Bldg. Tickets did not have a phone number, nor the address of the FT (although I'd given it to the Uber driver). Insanely cold outside. I tried several phone numbers on my iphone, and finally got a real person, who gave me the cross streets, and then hung up - without informing me that there was a lot of construction and that the entrance was not at the intersection he provided. We walked around the bldg and only on our 2nd time around, realized the entrance was below ground level, well-hidden from the street. This put us in the bldg. 10 min. after the performance started. No apology for our troubles, which we reported to the woman at the desk, although she did state that she'd had other people also tell her it was difficult to find. Once in the theater, they refused to seat us in our assigned seats since the performance had started, and instead we had to sit on the side where is was more difficult to see. We won't be back. All in all, very disappointing evening that left a sour taste for FT. Very user unfriendly. All in all, I got the feeling that FT doesn't want people to really visit, that it's really only for the hoity toity. Fine - let them have it. read more

Went on a private tour for a conference. This place is fantastic. I loved the exhibit on Jane and Will. We got to see several pieces from the private archives and the theater. A beautiful reading/research room makes me want to be a Shakespeare Scholar. read more

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Wonderful, spur of the moment decision. Turns out, I had an evening free and to myself with not too much work, after a day of meetings. Although I was dead tired, I decided at the last moment to check if any tickets for A Winter's Tale were still available. They had one, full view seat left. I took it--note that if you are flexible and willing to risk it, tickets fall to half price 30 minutes before curtain. This place is special--a replica of Shakespeare's Globe theater. Though the stage and decor inside recall the renaissance, the productions do not. The Folger takes risks, such as using a puppet to stand in for the young prince, and creating a sound track, sung and played by the actors to highlight the drama of this play. Its never a mistake to attend a play, here. read more

Folger Shakespeare Library - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A funny thing happens after you have visited DC a number of times with friends and family, the traditional attractions stop being of interest to you and you start checking out the smaller, less know attractions in DC, this is when you find the hidden gems of the city. The Folger Shakespeare Library is one of those hidden gems. I was in DC with a group and we had scheduled a tour of the Capital Building, as it turns out I had left a leathermen in my backpack so it was either ditch the leathermen or someone had to skip the capital tour. Having done the capital tour a number of times before I opted to skip it. Since our visit was in the middle of February it was of course cold out so I had to find something to do, I checked out my map of the area and immediately saw the Folger Shakespeare Library was nearby and it was a spot I had never been to before. I made the two block trip over and from the outside the building looks like every other building in DC but on the inside it is absolutely amazing. The visit was amazing the library has a massive collection of Shakespeare Folie's. I can't speak for the theater but the reading room is amazing. Note though getting access to the reading room is not exactly an easy thing to do and don't show up here expect your going to get into the reading room just cause you want to see it. I could easily spend an endless amount of time here. If your in DC, are a fan of Shakespear then its worth a visit to this wonderful location. read more

Folger Shakespeare Library - The reading room. - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The Folger Shakespeare Library and Theatre is located right around the corner from the National Archives. This was a decent (free!) museum, but I wouldn't put it at the top of my list if I had a limited amount of time in DC. The Folger family owns 82 out of 235 known copies of the first folio, one of which is on display behind glass in the Founder's Room. However, this area isn't open to the public, so you have to take a guided tour or be escorted by one of the guards in order to see it. The guided tour was an hour but probably could've been a half an hour. Our guide was very knowledgable about the collection, and it was somewhat interesting to learn about the life of Henry Clay Folger, who made his fortune at Standard Oil (not from coffee!). The Reading Room is beautiful; unfortunately, it was closed to the public. It felt a little silly to line up to look through a window at it. There was an exhibit about Shakespeare's influence in America in the main hall. I learned a few things about the Booth family, and the costumes from stage productions were cool. This isn't a bad place to stop if you need to get out of the sun for a bit, but I wouldn't plan to spend a ton of time here, especially since so many areas are closed to the public. Maybe I would've felt more welcome if I came for a show or special event at the theater. You can also relax in the English garden on the side of the building! read more

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What a gorgeous building...from the outside it looks like your basic monolithic space...although with really lovely landscaping. But then I entered the lobby of the theater (location of the exhibit we were in search of), all that paneling and carved wood, just gorgeous. Unfortunately, I did go into the theater or the library proper. Definitely worth a visit, especially for the Shakespeare obsessed. read more

This gem is often ignored by tourists who glance at it on the way to and from the Capitol - but rarely walk in, sadly. Sort of sandwiched between the main Library of Congress building and the Supreme Court, the FSL - this *supreme* little theatre and manuscript gallery - is a delight. Add to these impressive rooms a creatively landscaped garden (with sculptures depicting Shakespeare plays), a palatial (and exclusive) library, a sweet little gift shop, and you have a perfect mix for Shakespeare lovers. I have seen a play here - set in the Globe Theatre-esque space and was very impressed. Their lecture series is renowned as well (e.g., June will include "Discovering Hamlet" lectures from British actors and directors). Thank you, Folger (and Carnegie Mellon), for making your vision so brilliantly come to light. Note: Founded in 1970, the Folger Institute is a center for advanced study and research in the humanities, which is sponsored by the Folger Shakespeare Library and a consortium of 40 universities in the U.S. and abroad. read more

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I came here during one of the worst heat waves this summer. Narrow it down. I loved the bas-relief depictions of some of the Bard's plays. They are placed along the exterior of the building nearly at eye level. The theater is stunning, providing for excellent acoustics. As Katie noted, it is similar to the Globe Theater, but DC's is much more intricate and intimate than London's hallowed sanctuary of Shakespearean heritage. The reading room is reminiscent of an old English manor with lofty ceilings. A range of tapestries above the cascading bookshelves completes this image. The library boasts many copies of the First Folio and its importance is made abundantly clear to all those who happen to grace these halls. I had arrived on the last day of production for The Taming of the Shrew and so I was unfortunately unable to purchase tickets. My next visit to the Folger Theater will involve better planning. read more

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Have seen two plays here and both were very well done. I don't live in the area so I'm really going to miss this venue. The theatre is very small but beautiful, most seats are good with a few exceptions. They also have full accessibility for wheelchair users etc. If you can make sure you take a free tour of the library before seeing get a show. It is quite interesting and gives you an even better appreciation of the work that guests on there. I didn't get out to the gardens but here they are beautiful as well. read more

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