When the new £112m Royal Shakespeare theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon opens its doors to the public for the first time this week, the more spiritual visitor might be able to detect a benign ghostly presence. 

The ashes of one of its most famous sons – actor Ian Richardson – have been buried in the foundation.  As his actor son, Miles, points out, they are not just anywhere – but in front of the new stage, in row A, at the bottom of the central aisle. 

Miles, 47, who appeared with his father on the old Stratford stage which has been demolished to make way for the new theatre, said : "In perpetuity, my father will be on the front row for every future performance and just where he liked to be, centre stage.  And, if you are sitting in row A, you will not be alone." 

Miles was making a tour of the site for the new building in December 2008 with his mother Maroussia Richardson who, like her late husband, was a founder member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1961.  Miles said: "The building was at the foundation stage, the cement mixers were churning, and on an impulse I turned to my mother and said 'Why don't we put Dad's ashes in one of those?' " 

Ian Richardson found TV fame as scheming politician Francis Urquhart in 1990's TV drama House of Cards and as a silky spy, Bill Haydon, in the 1979 BBC adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.  He had earlier spent 15 years on stage in Stratford as a full-time member of the RSC. 

He died in his sleep, aged 72, in February 2007. 

Miles said: "His ashes had been on the mantelpiece of mum's home while we tried to work out what to do with them.  We had thought of Scotland, where he was born, but he didn't go back there much in latter years. 

"We also thought of the grounds of the house near Exeter in Devon where my mother and father spent the last 10 years of his life, but, again, it didn't seem quite right.  We wanted it to be somewhere we went often, and could think of him." 

After inspecting the new building, Miles and his mother, now 70, spoke to RSC executive director Vikki Heywood and the theatre's on-site constructors who asked them to come back the following week.  When they did so, they found a space had been ready-prepared in the foundations. 

Miles, currently rehearsing for a production of a Shakespeare adaptation, A Midwinter Dream, at the Bridge House theatre in nearby Warwick, said: "They used a computer-generated floorplan of the new theatre and laser measuring devices to locate the exact spot with pinpoint accuracy.  My mother and I were thrilled.  In a simple ceremony, we placed his ashes in the space and stood in respect.  The container was then covered over with concrete." " Every theatre should have its ghost.  There are a number in Shakespeare's plays.  The old Stratford theatre had one reputed to be of a former stage manager who came to a sticky end.  There was definitely a spooky feeling around by the old props store. 

Heywood said: "As we look ahead to opening the newly transformed Royal Shakespeare theatre to the public on Wednesday, I am touched that such a wonderful actor, who is also such an integral part of the RSC's history, has become part of the fabric of our new building." 

The new RST and the revamped and adjoining Swan theatre will open on time and on budget, on 24 November. 

The RST features a 1,000 seat auditorium and a thrust stage which the audience wraps round on three sides.  Facilities include exhibition areas, a new rooftop restaurant, riverside cafe and terrace, and a new 36-metre tower with viewing platform from which visitors will be able to see all the Shakespeare landmarks in the town. 

Many of the art deco features of the original 1932 building have been retained. 

In a carefully choreographed "soft opening", there will be exhibitions, readings and recitals in the new theatres into the New Year.  In February, the first production will open when actor Greg Hicks steps out onto the new RST stage in the title role in King Lear. 

• This article was amended on Monday 22 November 2010.  We referred incorrectly to Ian Richardson as Sir Ian Richardson.  This has been corrected.