Your critical guide to arts, culture and going out in the capital
National Theatre, Olivier
National Theatre, Olivier review
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 - a sort of giant rotating stage that comes complete with set-friendly elevators.