In May 2015, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and the University of Birmingham launched a five-year collaboration with the ambition to redefine the relationship between academic work and artistic practice. This chapter takes the form of an interview with RSC and University of Birmingham personnel, and discusses the processes and structures of the collaboration, whilst also engaging with the challenges and lessons learned over the course of the past five years. Liam Semler’s concept of ‘ardenspace’ is referenced to support the idea of a new space being created: a space where artists, scholars and students can experiment together to explore new possibilities for teaching, research and theatre practice. This chapter highlights the importance of collaboration and creative experiment while also reflecting on the challenges of enacting change beyond the walls of the rehearsal room or the teaching space. The collaboration ultimately asks for a redefinition of terms such as ‘research’ and ‘impact’ by challenging the University and the RSC into new ways of thinking, researching and teaching.