The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has announced a major new touring and education partnership involving five leading regional theatres, which will run between 2012 and 2015.

Hull Truck Theatre Company; Newcastle Theatre Royal; Hall for Cornwall; Southampton's Nuffield Theatre; and York Theatre Royal will partner with the RSC from April this year.

The RSC said the partnerships will expand its Learning and Performance Network, which is already reaching nearly 400 schools in disadvantaged areas across the country.

Partner venues will use the 'hub school and cluster' approach to run three-year initiatives in Kingston-upon Hull; Middlesbrough; Cornwall; Southampton; and York respectively.

RSC artistic director Michael Boyd said: "We will be able to take the RSC right into the heart of communities who wouldn't ordinarily have easy access to our work."

Meanwhile, Boyd has also confirmed that the RSC's 2012-13 winter season will be his last with the company but said he would help with "planning further into 2013" to help ensure a smooth transition.

Details: www.thersc.org.uk