National Theatre

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National Theatre

Britta Jaschinski / Time Out
Interior architecture

Rob Greig / Time Out
National Theatre

Rob Greig / Time Out
National Theatre architecture

Rob Greig / Time Out
National Theatre interior

Rob Greig / Time Out
National Theatre Stairs

Rob Greig / Time Out

National Theatre

Britta Jaschinski / Time Out

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Time Out says

Sat Dec 1 2012

The concrete-clad, 1960s modernist grandmother of them all: no theatrical tour of London is complete without a visit to the National, whose three auditoriums – Olivier, Lyttelton and Cottesloe – offer a rolling repertory programme, often with a choice of several productions in a week. The National Theatre may have once had a fiercely inaccessible reputation, but the arrival of maverick artistic director Nicholas Hytner in 2003 rocked theatreland as he set about changing the venue's staid ethos with daring productions such as 'Jerry Springer the Opera' and an ambitious adaptation of Phillip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials'. The change of tack proved a success, attracting audiences of mixed race, age and class – and Hytner's budget £10 Travelex-sponsored tickets still help pull in the crowds in the summer season. The home stable for Michael Morpurgo's 'War Horse', which opened here in 2007 and went on to break West End records, the National is now developing a reputation for family-friendly blockbusters, cue its current production of Mark Haddon's 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time'. Meanwhile the National Theatre Live initiative has extended the theatre's reach by broadcasting high-publicity productions such as Danny Boyle's role-swapping smash-hit 'Frankenstein' and the comedy 'One Man, Two Guvnors', which introduced James Corden to the stage, live to Picturehouse Cinemas. A recent run of the post-modern musical 'London Road' proved it hasn't lost its edge. You don't have to buy a ticket to get a feel for the National's atmosphere – the alfresco stage, National Theatre Square, routinely lays on free and inclusive performing arts, gigs and exhibitions, especially during the Watch This Space summer festival.

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Venue location

Address:
National Theatre South Bank
London
SE1 9PX

Phone:
020 7452 3400
Website:
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
Opening hours:
9.30am-11pm Mon-Sat (12noon-6pm Sun when there is a performance in the building)
Transport:
Tube: Waterloo
Map
1. National Theatre
  - South Bank
    London
    SE1 9PX
  - 020 7452 3400
  - www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
  - 51.507200,-0.113599

Categories:
Theatre. Musical comedy. Musicals. Comedy. Theatre revival. Drama. Classical theatre. Contemporary theatre. Dance. Music. Classical & Opera. Shopping. Comedy. Art. Cabaret. Books and poetry. Clubs. Things to do
Facilities:
Eating and drinking facilities. Bar. Café. Restaurant. Food served. Accessible facilities. Wheelchair access. Devices for the hearing-impaired. Signing services available. Entertainment facilities. Late night. General facilities. Available for hire
Occasions:
Big-name talent. Culture vultures. Feed your brain. Take a tourist. Take your parents. Weekend visitors

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Comments & ratings

(4 ratings)

Why has it become so difficult to get a simple listing and summary of all the plays on in London for a specific period? It used to be so easy by reading Time Out London or asking the Internet. No more, it seems! Why not? Thanks, Frank

frank a. scimone Mon Mar 25
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quite agree with Virginia Ramsey and the other comments; new freebie is full of ads and only has the 'critics' choice' of shows which might not be ours. Why can't we/London - the greatest arts city in the world - have a decent comprehensive listing magazine, like the old TO where you can see listings by what's on and where, from the tiniest pub-play to the West End musicals. You could have dropped the price a little to compete with on-line listings and made up the loss of income by an increase in advertising. Plus the freebie can only be found on Tuesdays between 9.30 and 11.30 after which it has disappeared from tube stations - and I live near Paddington Station. The website is super-complicated and time-consuming...BRING BACK THE PAPER VERSION PLEASE!!!

marinaiki Fri Feb 8
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PLEASE BRING BACK THE COMPREHENSIVE MAGAZINE! I am a subscriber and the new one doesn't come close to the original so I'm not happy that I am still having to pay for it. The new magazine and the website are both inferior to the old magazine. I am going to the theatre less as I used to use the magazine to see what was on. PLEASE BRING IT BACK! Sad in Wandsworth!

virginia ramsay Thu Jan 31
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I'm fed up going round in circles on the site. eg Lyric Hammersmith - why can't I click through to their website? I'm getting pretty bored with your new website design. It was much more user friendly previously. Rosie Goode

rosie goode Thu Jan 31
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I am happy to pay for a magazine whereby I can see what is showing in all the theatres in London. I have wasted so much time trying to navigate to find what is showing at the National Theatre; in the end after reading other comments I have decided that you do not offer this service? I looked at how to pay but I have decided that I must have the incorrect site and there must be another Time out site whereby you pay but I can't find it? Can you help by sending the link if there is one.

John Hasler Fri Jan 25
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Bring back the paper mag please. This is a dreadful substitute.

Roger Tue Jan 22
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A listings magazine with no listings. Time Out sadly completely useless now. The frustration of not being able to see a proper list of al the productions on in London is incredible. I don't want to faff around looking at all the individual theatre sites. Whoever thought your current effort worthwhile simply wanted to kill off Time Out entirely. Sad day. And it leaves London Theatre goers bereft. Fringe theatres must be suffering hugely. How can I decide what I want see if I can't see a list of what is on listed by title or venue? I don't want to know the latest offers, I want to see what is on. I realise this comment isn't just about the National but follows another person annoyed that you can't even list what is on at the National. Why bother?

Frustrated theatregoer Sun Jan 20
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WHY ARE THERE NO PLAYS LISTED?

GWEN Sat Jan 19
Rated as: 1/5
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god how i miss your magazine! this is just too fiddly pb

pierre Fri Jan 18
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too confusing I loved the magazine Easy to find what you wanted to do and what you liked with your faforites willing to talk on phone if you email who to call

edwincohen Sat Dec 15 2012
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National Theatre

National Theatre

Interior architecture

National Theatre

National Theatre architecture

National Theatre interior

National Theatre Stairs

National Theatre

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