Royal National Theatre
South Bank, London, SE1 9PX Tel: 44 (0)20 7452 3000
nationaltheatre.org.uk
Few buildings divide Londoners as much as the Royal National Theatre. A brutal concrete monstrosity or a modernist masterpiece? Whatever your opinion of the South Bank landmark, the fact is, since it opened in 1976, it’s been home to some of the most exciting theatrical productions ever to be staged in the UK.
The National is in fact three theatres: the cosy Cottesloe studio, the mid-sized, proscenium-arched Lyttelton, and the vast Olivier auditorium - named after Laurence Olivier, the company’s first artistic director. Having taken over from Trevor Nunn in 2003, Nicholas Hytner now holds that role, and under his directorship the theatre has become more inclusive and innovative. Recent successes include an exhilarating production of Henry V starring Adrian Lester, Mike Leigh’s Two Thousand Years – his first new play in over a decade – and Alan Bennett’s The History Boys which went on to take Broadway by storm and clean up at the 2006 Tonys.
The recent introduction of the Travelex £10 ticket scheme means that a night at the National doesn’t have to dent your wallet in the same way that an evening in a West End playhouse can. A good thing, given that with work of this standard, and around 20 productions staged each year, one trip is not going to be enough.
The National is in fact three theatres: the cosy Cottesloe studio, the mid-sized, proscenium-arched Lyttelton, and the vast Olivier auditorium - named after Laurence Olivier, the company’s first artistic director. Having taken over from Trevor Nunn in 2003, Nicholas Hytner now holds that role, and under his directorship the theatre has become more inclusive and innovative. Recent successes include an exhilarating production of Henry V starring Adrian Lester, Mike Leigh’s Two Thousand Years – his first new play in over a decade – and Alan Bennett’s The History Boys which went on to take Broadway by storm and clean up at the 2006 Tonys.
The recent introduction of the Travelex £10 ticket scheme means that a night at the National doesn’t have to dent your wallet in the same way that an evening in a West End playhouse can. A good thing, given that with work of this standard, and around 20 productions staged each year, one trip is not going to be enough.
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Review this experienceReviews of Royal National Theatre
The National never disappoints. I loved Kneehigh's Matter of Life and Death and can hardly wait for their production of Much Ado - Simon Russell Beale and Zoe Wanamaker - dream casting.
SarahSaxon, Edinburgh 07/9/2007
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The National really is one of the best theatres in the UK. I've seen some amazing productions here in the past. And while I've not seen anything this year that's really thrilled me, The Reporter (starring Ben Chaplin) was a solid and interesting new play and enjoyed Nicholas Hytner's The Man of Mode.
helen27, London 29/5/2007
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