The Royal National Theatre, commonly called National Theatre, or simply The National, is one of the two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company. It is located on the South Bank of London, in the borough of Lambert. The theatre occupies an art complex called Southbank Centre, which also includes the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Hayward and the British Film Institute.
The foundation stone for the Royal National Theatre was laid in 1951, but nothing materialized for the next ten years, as the Government declared not being able to afford to build it. Eventually agreements were reached and construction began around July 1962. The first theatre opened in 1963 but it was only in 1976 that the main hall was completed. The three auditoria at the Royal National Theatre are the Olivier Theatre, Lyttelton Theatre and Cottesloe Theatre.
The design of the National Theatre with is in the Modernist style - or rather, Brutalist architecture - drew criticism even from advocates of the Modern Movement. Prince Charles infamously commented in 1988 that the building was "a clever way of building a nuclear power station in the middle of London without anyone objecting". On the other hand, English poet and broadcaster Sir John Betjeman, not known to be fond of brutalist architecture, wrote to compliment architect Denys Lasdun for making him "gasp with delight". Nonetheless general opinion remains split over the design.
How to reach The Royal National Theatre
Take the Bakerloo Line, Jubilee Line or Northern Line to Waterloo Station and walk a short distance from there.
Nearby Sights
- Jubilee Gardens
- London Eye
- London IMAX
- Queen Elizabeth Hall
- Royal Festival Hall
- Sea Life London Aquarium
- The Hayward
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