Theatres of Great Theatres of Great BritainBritain (Royal National Theatre)(Royal National Theatre)

The Royal National Theatre, located on The Royal National Theatre, located on the South Bank in the London Borough of the South Bank in the London Borough of Lambeth, England. is immediately east of Lambeth, England. is immediately east of the southern end of Waterloo Bridge. The the southern end of Waterloo Bridge. The National Theatre's building was designed National Theatre's building was designed by architect Sir by architect Sir DenysDenys LasdunLasdun and its and its theatres opened individually between theatres opened individually between 1976 and 1977. 1976 and 1977.

The National Theatre building houses three separate auditoria:The National Theatre building houses three separate auditoria: The The Olivier TheatreOlivier Theatre (named after the theatre's first artistic director, (named after the theatre's first artistic director,

Laurence OlivierLaurence Olivier), the largest space, is the main auditorium, and was ), the largest space, is the main auditorium, and was modelled on the modelled on the ancient Greekancient Greek theatre at Epidaurus; it has an open theatre at Epidaurus; it has an open stage and a fan-shaped audience seating area for about 1,160 people. stage and a fan-shaped audience seating area for about 1,160 people. It houses the Drum Revolve, a unique piece of stage technology which It houses the Drum Revolve, a unique piece of stage technology which goes 8 m under the stage. The Drum has two rim revolves and two goes 8 m under the stage. The Drum has two rim revolves and two platforms which can take 10 tonnes, facilitating dramatic and fluid platforms which can take 10 tonnes, facilitating dramatic and fluid scenery changes. scenery changes.

The The Lyttelton TheatreLyttelton Theatre (named after Oliver Lyttelton, the first chairman (named after Oliver Lyttelton, the first chairman of the National Theatre Board) has a proscenium arch design and of the National Theatre Board) has a proscenium arch design and holds up to 890 people. holds up to 890 people.

The The Cottesloe TheatreCottesloe Theatre (named after Lord Cottesloe, chairman of the (named after Lord Cottesloe, chairman of the South Bank Theatre Board) is a small adaptable studio space, South Bank Theatre Board) is a small adaptable studio space, designed by Iain Mackintosh, holding up to 400 people, depending on designed by Iain Mackintosh, holding up to 400 people, depending on the seating configuration. the seating configuration.

The National Theatre's foyers are open to the public, The National Theatre's foyers are open to the public, with a large theatrical bookshop, restaurants, bars and with a large theatrical bookshop, restaurants, bars and exhibition spaces. Backstage tours run throughout the exhibition spaces. Backstage tours run throughout the day, and there is live music every day in the foyer day, and there is live music every day in the foyer before performances.before performances.

The National also has a Studio, the National's research The National also has a Studio, the National's research and development wing, founded in 1984. The Studio and development wing, founded in 1984. The Studio has played a vital role in developing work for the has played a vital role in developing work for the National's stages and throughout British theatre. National's stages and throughout British theatre. Writers, actors and practitioners of all kinds can Writers, actors and practitioners of all kinds can explore, experiment and devise new work there, free explore, experiment and devise new work there, free from the pressure of public performance. from the pressure of public performance.

In September 2007, In September 2007, a statue of Sir a statue of Sir Laurence Olivier as Laurence Olivier as Hamlet was unveiled Hamlet was unveiled outside the building, outside the building, to mark the to mark the centenary of the centenary of the National's first artistic National's first artistic director.director.