During my last visit to the Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon, I was captivated by their charming, old-fashioned rose-patterned tea service from the V & A, displayed on an oak dresser. This experience deepened my love for the tradition of English afternoon tea. I decided that when we returned to watch “Romeo and Juliet” at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, we would indulge in afternoon tea at the Arden Hotel beforehand.

It felt appropriate to enjoy tea in the heart of Stratford, the birthplace of England’s greatest poet and playwright, surrounded by the historic half-timbered houses that Shakespeare might have known as a boy. Our family settled into the leather chesterfield sofas in the pale green-paneled drawing room of the hotel. Through the sash windows, framed by toile de jouy curtains, we had a splendid view of the original Victorian entrance of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, now modernized with a new frontage and tower after a recent redevelopment.

Our waiter, unperturbed by my son’s unusual request for a Ribena ice lolly, graciously offered to fetch one from the shops. Our tea arrived, featuring Earl Grey (with lemon or milk) and fruit tea for me. I adore the elegant, old-fashioned cake stands they use, laden with thinly sliced sandwiches—smoked salmon and cucumber or chicken with salad, all without crusts. The second cake stand held slices of chocolate and walnut cake, along with scones to be smothered in clotted cream and strawberry jam.

As we enjoyed our tea, the conversation turned to the play we were about to see. My son questioned the point of watching a play when everyone knows the ending. My father-in-law reminisced about seeing Sir Ian McKellen in “King Lear,” and my mother-in-law recalled sitting among theatre critics during a previous visit.

We debated the pronunciation of “scone”—whether it rhymes with “home” or “shone”—a matter that apparently depends on whether you live in the north or south of England. After finishing our tea, we walked across the road to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. In the shop, my children persuaded me to buy a book of Shakespeare’s sonnets and some pencils with “2B or not 2B” written on them.

We explored the theatre, from the Transformations exhibition about its redevelopment to the Squidsoup art installation, where words typed into a computer were projected as a swirling word sculpture on the wall. At the appointed time, we took our seats to the side of the stage, which jutted out with the audience on three sides. Although we had to crane our necks for the balcony scenes, it was worth it. Those in the front row even had their photos taken and were humorously compared to the fair Rosalind by Romeo.

The performance was memorable, with Juliet portrayed as a spirited teenager and Romeo as a dreamy photographer who forgets his camera upon meeting Juliet. The production’s styling fascinated me, blending Shakespearean costumes with modern elements like biker boots and Vivienne Westwood-inspired corsets. The cast’s energetic performance at the ball, with golden sun masks and African drums, contrasted with the casual modern attire of Romeo and Juliet in their everyday clothes.

Despite the tragic ending, where I found myself willing Juliet to wake up in time to stop Romeo, the performance was a poignant reminder that the world’s best-known love story is also a tragedy. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre offers much more than just a play; it’s a complete experience, enhanced by the millions spent on its redevelopment. Our afternoon tea at the Arden Hotel set the perfect tone for the evening.

Although we caught the last performance of “Romeo and Juliet,” you can still enjoy afternoon tea with other plays like “The Merchant of Venice” or “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” For the best experience, book early for front-row seats to fully immerse yourself in the thrill of live Shakespeare.