National Theatre, Olivier

The Olivier (named, of course, after Laurence) is the National Theatre's papa bear auditorium whose amphitheatre-style space has a capacity of over 1,000. The National Theatre's epic productions tend to play here: Chicago company Steppenwolf's 'August: Osage County' and an adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's 'War Horse' among them. It was once a large draughty space to fill but in recent years a new generation of very visual directors has transformed the vertical spaces with spectacular sets. The theatre is also pretty proud of its drum revolve ñ a sort of giant rotating stage that comes complete with set-friendly elevators.