The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opened on next to the River Avon in 1879, after local brewer, Charles Flower donated the land and launched a campaign to build a theatre in the town of Shakespeare's birth. The theatre was rebuilt in 1932 after a fire, then in 1961 became the Royal Shakespeare Theatre when the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) was founded by Peter Hall. Today, they perform plays by Shakespeare and his contemporaries, as well as commissioning a wide range of original work from contemporary writers. Their mission is to ensure that Shakespeare is for everyone, unlocking the power of his plays and live performance, throughout the UK and across the world.