Artistic director Michael Boyd is looking for a new London base

It will be the first time since the RSC was formed in the 1960s that no plays have been taken to the capital.

The RSC left its previous base at London's Barbican under controversial former head Adrian Noble last year.

Productions are "not cheap" to stage, a spokeswoman said, and no producers with enough cash had come forward.

"We have previously worked on productions with producers with financial clout, including the Jacobean plays last year," she said.

'No takers'

"But this season we have not had any take up from producers. We are disappointed because we still see London as the top note of performing.

"RSC productions usually have a large cast because of the nature of the plays and they are not cheap to put on and we have not had any takers."

The company recently announced it plans to seek a long-term London home.

Artistic director Michael Boyd has said the company wanted to find a venue to call its own for the next five years.

The RSC's permanent home remains at the Shakespeare theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, with a smaller base in Newcastle.