The Royal National Theatre

There was over two hundred years of debate and discussion regarding a British national theatre before the Royal National Theatre was conceived by Sir Laurence Olivier in 1963. Thirteen years later the Royal National was opened on London’s South Bank: a mammoth building designed by Sir Denys Lasun.

There are three auditoriums within the complex - Cottesloe, Lyttleton and Olivier, which was named after the late Sir Laurence Olivier and is the largest of the three. Lyttleton has many traditional theatre features and is used to stage smaller productions, whilst Cottesloe’s flexible nature brings a more varied spectrum of shows to life.

The Royal National Theatre is being redeveloped as part of the South Bank with a new exterior stage known as 'Theatre Square' being developed. The Royal National Theatre is close to The London Eye, The Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward Gallery in London's South Bank area.

The first ever performance of the national Theatre was a Laurence Olivier directed production of Hamlet starring Peter O’Toole. Since The Royal National Theatre was formed it has staged over five hundred plays. There is a café and gift shop within the Royal National Theatre foyer.