“ What's in a name, anyway? That which we call a nose by any other name would still smell. “
Quotes by The Reduced Shakespeare Company
Introducing The Reduced Shakespeare Company
The Reduced Shakespeare Company (RSC) is an American comedy troupe that has delighted audiences worldwide since its humble beginnings in 1981, when Daniel Singer founded it at California’s Renaissance Pleasure Faire with a 25-minute, four-actor version of Hamlet. This initial spark evolved into a theatrical phenomenon when Singer teamed up with Jess Winfield and Adam Long to create The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) in 1987, a 97-minute whirlwind through all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays that debuted at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and ran for nine years in London’s West End, earning a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.
Dubbed the "Bad Boys of Abridgment" by critics, the RSC has since produced 11 stage shows, including The Complete History of America (Abridged) (1993), The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged) (1995), and William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (Abridged) (2016), alongside TV specials, radio series, and a podcast. After Singer’s departure in 1989 and Long’s in 1992, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor stepped in as managing partners, steering the troupe to new heights with their writing and performances. The RSC’s signature style—described as “intellectual vaudeville” by The New York Times—marries physical comedy, sharp wit, and a fearless approach to condensing vast subjects, from Shakespeare to sports, into digestible, laugh-packed packages. With performances at prestigious venues like the White House, Lincoln Center, and the Folger Shakespeare Library, plus tours across the U.S., UK, and beyond, the RSC has set two Guinness World Records and remains a beloved staple of comedic theater.
Dubbed the "Bad Boys of Abridgment" by critics, the RSC has since produced 11 stage shows, including The Complete History of America (Abridged) (1993), The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged) (1995), and William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (Abridged) (2016), alongside TV specials, radio series, and a podcast. After Singer’s departure in 1989 and Long’s in 1992, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor stepped in as managing partners, steering the troupe to new heights with their writing and performances. The RSC’s signature style—described as “intellectual vaudeville” by The New York Times—marries physical comedy, sharp wit, and a fearless approach to condensing vast subjects, from Shakespeare to sports, into digestible, laugh-packed packages. With performances at prestigious venues like the White House, Lincoln Center, and the Folger Shakespeare Library, plus tours across the U.S., UK, and beyond, the RSC has set two Guinness World Records and remains a beloved staple of comedic theater.