National Theatre [London]
Royal National Theatre
Královské národní divadlo
Theatre building in London, United Kingdom
theatergebouw in London, Verenigd Koninkrijk
National Theatre
Upper Ground, South Bank, London, Lambeth, SE1 9PX, England
Built 1967-1976 by Sir Denys Lasdun, adjacent to the Southbank Centre. Officially opened 25 Oct 1976 by Queen Elizabeth II. Used for drama performances by the resident company (previous operating at the Old Vic Theatre), and for performances by visiting companies. The complex comprises three halls: Olivier Theatre: Named in honour of the British actor and theatre director, Sir Laurence Olivier. Opened 4 Oct 1977 with Marlowe's Tamburlaine The Great. Ca. 1120 seats. Lyttelton Theatre: Named in honour of Oliver Lyttelton, Viscount Chandos, the first chairmain of the National Theatre. Opened 16 Mar 1976 with Shakespeare's Hamlet. Ca. 890 seats. Cottesloe Theatre: Namd in honour of Lord Cottesloe, chairman of the South Bank Board. Opened 4 Mar 1977 with Ken Campbell's Illuminatus!. Up to 300 seats.
The National Theatre in London opened in 1976 and was designed by Denys Lasdun. It has three stages the amphitheatre Olivier, the proscenium arch Lyttleton, and the flexible Dorfman. The building is noted for its polarising brutalist architecture.