There is something quietly thrilling about seeing Shakespeare performed in the town where he was born, on stages that have drawn the finest actors in the English-speaking world for over a century. The RSC's riverside theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon are under an hour from the cottage, making an evening performance or a Saturday matinee entirely doable.
The RSC runs three spaces in Stratford: the main Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the smaller Swan, and The Other Place, each with a different character. The main house is where you'll see the big productions (the Histories, the Tragedies, the ones with the casts of dozens), and the thrust stage puts you remarkably close to the action, even from the upper circle. The Swan is more intimate, a galleried Jacobean-style playhouse that suits the comedies and later plays beautifully. If you only see one show, check what's on at the Swan first. The acting tends to be exceptional, the sightlines are generous, and you feel genuinely part of the performance rather than watching from a distance.
We'd suggest making an evening of it. Drive over in the late afternoon, walk along the river to the theatre, and book dinner beforehand at one of the restaurants on Sheep Street or Waterside. The Rooftop Restaurant in the theatre itself has good views over the Avon, though you'll want to reserve well ahead. For matinees, the drive back through the north Cotswold lanes in the golden hour is a pleasure in its own right. It's worth noting that the RSC also programmes new writing and transfers alongside Shakespeare, so even if you've seen your fill of the comedies, there's usually something unexpected in the season.
“Book the Swan if you can. It's one of the best theatre spaces in the country, and there isn't a bad seat in the house.”
All of this on the doorstep, and your own thatched cottage to come home to. Sleeps seven, less than a mile from Soho Farmhouse.