Shakespeare still relevant to UK's young people

A study for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) shows that most young people in the UK still feel that Shakespeare plays an important role in British culture.

MORI interviewed 647 young people aged between 15 and 35. A third (34%) felt that Shakespeare was still relevant today, while 27% thought that Shakespeare's plays have had important impact on the English language.

More young people had been to see a play in the last year (28%) than had been to a pop concert (25%) or visited an art exhibition or gallery (21%). However cinema (79%), clubbing (49%) and live sport (45%) were young people's most favoured leisure options.

Only 3% of those interviewed felt intimidated by going to see a production of a Shakespeare play at the theatre and only 15% felt that Shakespeare was not relevant for today's young people.

Of those who had been to the theatre in the last year, only 16% were attracted by the actors performing in the theatre. The most popular reasons for going to the theatre were 'to do something different' (29%), 'it's good way to spend time' (31%) and 'the play was recommended' (31%).

A mere 1% of those who had not been to see a play in the last 12 months felt that theatre is too stuffy. The most common reason for not going to the theatre was 'never thought about it' (22%), followed by 'nothing I wanted to see' (21%).

The poll results are launched on the eve of the first RSC Summer Debate on 12 June 2002, which this year addresses issues around 'Theatre and the TV Generation'.

Technical details

MORI interviewed a nationally representative quota sample of 647 adults aged between 15 and 35. Interviews were conducted face-to-face in respondents' homes between 23 and 28 May 2002.