In 1976 the National Theatre Company, founded in 1963, acquired a home of its own in the new South Bank development; until then it had been temporarily accommodated in the historic Old Vic Theatre in Waterloo Road. The Royal National Theatre, lying close to the south end of Waterloo Bridge, forms part of the South Bank arts center which also includes the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room, the National Film Theatre with its two cinemas, the Museum of the Moving Image and the Hayward Art Gallery of modern art.
Designed by Sir Denys Lasdun, it is a massive concrete structure containing three theaters with a total of 2,400 seats, two restaurants, buffets, eight bars, 49 air-conditioned dressing rooms (room for 153 actors), scenery and wardrobe stores, offices, workshops and parking for 400 cars, together with foyers, galleries and riverside terraces. In the interior decoration full use is made of the concrete as a stylistic element.
Although the first effect may be confusing, the theater is excellently planned to allow both actors and theater-goers to get from place to place as quickly as possible.
The establishment of the National Theatre was designed to provide a suitable forum for dramatists from all over the world from Shakespeare to contemporary playwrights, but this was only one part of its task. It also aims to send out touring productions to the provinces and to other countries and to invite foreign companies to perform in London. The two larger theaters house not only productions by the Royal National Theatre Company but also occasional performances by such foreign companies as the Piccolo Theatre of Milan, while in the small Cottesloe Theatre can be seen occasional experimental productions by companies such as Theatre de Complicité. The late Laurence Olivier (Lord Olivier), first director of the National Theatre, developed a comprehensive program of all kinds of dramatic productions with a first-rate company; and his successors have continued the tradition, at the same time extending the scope of the National Theatre's activities to obviate the risk of cultural isolation. There are performances and events going on in other parts of the building apart from the auditoria: this was the architect's intention, as it is the director's.
These additional events - pop and folk music, jazz, medieval music, children's theater, etc. - have proved extremely popular as have the ever-changing program of foyer exhibitions and backstage tours. Every evening before curtain-up in the theater there is a musical program in the foyer, ranging from classical music to jazz, and theater-goers now come early in order to be present at these performances. On certain days of the week there are also "platform shows" in one of the theaters, when, on a temporary stage in front of the curtain, members of the Royal National Theatre Company or guests from the worlds of theater, music and literature put on a program which may range from poetry readings to mime, from a puppet show to a song recital or discussing their life's work.
The Cottesloe Theater (named after Lord Cottesloe, first chairman of the South Bank Theatre Board) is an experimental theater or theater workshop, with a central stage or acting area around which 200 to 400 seats can be arranged according to requirements.
Address: Royal National Theatre, South Bank Centre, London SE1 9PX, England
The Lyttelton Theatre (named after the Lyttelton family who promoted the idea of a National Theatre) has 895 seats, a large stage, sophisticated machinery and equipment and good sightlines.
Address: Royal National Theatre, South Bank Centre, London SE1 9PX, England
The Olivier Theatre, the largest of the three theaters that make up the Royal National Theatre, has 1,160 seats and a large, open, revolving stage with some sophisticated machinery including the world's only drum revolve.
Address: Royal National Theatre, South Bank Centre, London SE1 9PX, England
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The Royal National Theatre in London.
