It is accompanied by a number of additional street food stalls and bars run by the NT. The Royal National Theatre in London, commonly known as the National Theatre (NT), is one of the United Kingdom's three most prominent publicly funded performing arts venues, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House. The current building was designed by architects Sir Denys Lasdun and Peter Softley and structural engineers Flint & Neill and contains three stages, which opened individually between 1976 and 1977. Developed by Web Matters. Each auditorium in the theatre can run up to three shows in repertoire, thus further widening the number of plays which can be put on during any one season. It was designed with a traditional proscenium arch, much like the typical theatre … In Schools is the National Theatre's free production streaming service for UK schools. [17], In 2015 British artist Carl Randall painted a portrait of actress Katie Leung standing in front of The Shed as part of the artist's 'London Portraits' series, where he asked various cultural figures to choose a place in London for the backdrop of their portraits. Past Rebound Dance Theatre shows have sold out early, so don't miss out. 2013 saw the commencement of the 'NT Future' project; a redevelopment of the National Theatre complex which it was estimated would cost about £80m.[27]. [20][21], The style of the National Theatre building was described by Mark Girouard as "an aesthetic of broken forms" at the time of opening. In 2008, he opened a new theatre, The Rose, and remained its Director Emeritus until his death in 2017. Home to great theatre, touring companies, quality performing arts education and versatile venue hires for your next function. The Royal National Theatre in London, commonly known as the National Theatre[1] (NT), is one of the United Kingdom's three most prominent publicly funded performing arts venues, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House. [12], The Company remained at the Old Vic until 1977, when construction of the Olivier was complete.[9]. The enhanced[15] theatre reopened in September 2014 under its new name. Minicom 020 7452 3009. The space offers exceptional acoustics and sightlines for the audience - there are no restricted view seats. This arrangement has led to a tradition whereby, on the opening night (known as 'Press Night') and closing night of any individual play, when called to go to 'beginners' (opening positions), the actors will go to the window and drum on the glass with the palms of their hands.[26]. Rebound Dance Company comes out of the stables to present this new work of Dance, Theatre and general horsing around. [24] The carefully refined balance between horizontal and vertical elements in Lasdun's building has been contrasted favourably with the lumpiness of neighbouring buildings such as the Hayward Gallery and Queen Elizabeth Hall. A proscenium arch theatre, the venue typically hosts small, traditional plays, as … [29] Laura Collier became Head of the Studio in November 2011, replacing Purni Morrell who headed the Studio from 2006. Internationally, it is known as the National Theatre of Great Britain. Amongst Hytner's innovations were NT Future, the National Theatre Live initiative of simulcasting live productions, and the Entry Pass scheme, allowing young people under the age of 26 to purchase tickets for £7.50 to any production at the theatre. In April 2013 Hytner announced he would step down as Artistic Director at the end of March 2015.[38][39]. The car park ticket must be stamped at the Lyttleton information desk, and presented on leaving the car park.) More Info. Named after Oliver Lyttelton, the National Theatre's first board chairman, it has a proscenium arch design and can accommodate an audience of 890. The fourth season of broadcasts commenced on Thursday 6 September 2012 with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a play based on the international best-selling novel by Mark Haddon. From its foundation in 1963 until 1976, the company was based at The Old Vic theatre in Waterloo. . Following some initial inspirational steps taken with the opening of the Chichester Festival Theatre in Chichester June 1962, the developments in London proceeded. Please check your entries and try again. [9] Ten years after the foundation stone had been laid in 1951, the Government declared that the nation could not afford a National Theatre; in response the LCC offered to waive any rent and pay half the construction costs. Something went wrong. Production of serious plays was restricted to the patent theatres, and new plays were subjected to censorship by the Lord Chamberlain's Office. Among the first ensemble of actors of the company were Robert Stephens, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright, Michael Gambon, Derek Jacobi, Lynn Redgrave, Michael Redgrave, Colin Blakely and Frank Finlay. One Man, Two Guvnors returned to cinema screens in the United States, Canada and Australia for a limited season in Spring 2012. A 'drum revolve' (a five-storey revolving stage section) extends eight metres beneath the stage and is operated by a single staff member.