The Royal National Theatre in London consists of three main venues, along with a labyrinthine backstage area with workshops, dressing rooms and technical facilities.
Dates: 1976 – present
Architect: Denys Lasdun
- Lyttleton – Proscenium Arch theatre
- Dorfman – 300 seat intimate auditorium, used as an experimental space. The auditorium can be reconfigured as necessary.
- Olivier – 1200 seat auditorium. Huge thrust stage with a complex drum revolve and lift mechanism on stage.
- Rehearsal Room One (the size of the Olivier stage) also contains a revolve, so that actors can work on the set, as close as possible to how it will be on the stage next door.
In 2024, Richard Pilbrow’s glorious book A Sense Of Theatre was published, which documents in incredible detail the history, technology and evolution of this wonderful building.
Artistic Directors of the National Theatre
- 1962 – 1973: Laurence Olivier (A company resident at the Old Vic)
- 1973 – 1988: Peter Hall
- 1988 – 1997: Richard Eyre
- 1997 – 2003: Trevor Nunn
- 2003 – 2015: Nicholas Hytner
- 2015 – present: Rufus Norris
Tour of the National Theatre with Nicholas Hytner
Official website: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
Links to information about equipment at National Theatre, London over the years
Documents
National Theatre Lightboard Modulation Trolley
Click on thumbnail to enlarge
[591kb JPEG]
From Alan Luxford Collection
LSI - The National Theatre 40 Years of Tech (November 2017)
[2.53Mb PDF]
From Lighting & Sound International
Classic Gear: A Sense of Theatre (December 2023)
[External Website]
From Lighting & Sound International
