Royal National Theatre

The Royal National Theatre is a major producing theatre on the South Bank of the River Thames in central London, designed by architect Denys Lasdun and opened in 1976.

The complex houses three main auditoria. The largest is the Olivier, a fan-shaped house with a thrust stage seating roughly 1,100 to 1,200; the Lyttelton is a mid-sized proscenium and flexible auditorium seating about 800 to 900; and the Dorfman is a smaller adaptable studio space seating around 400.

Besides major productions, the venue offers public foyers, exhibition spaces, bars and riverside terraces that are freely accessible and provide notable views across the Thames to St Paul’s Cathedral. The National Theatre runs a programme of new plays, classic revivals and community and education work, and also operates guided backstage tours for visitors.

The building sits on the South Bank near Waterloo in central London, close to several transport hubs including Waterloo and Charing Cross stations, and is part of the wider cultural precinct along the river.

• Auditoriums: Named stages are the Olivier, Lyttelton and Dorfman, each offering different stage shapes and capacities suitable for varying production sizes.
• Public viewing areas: Terrace and foyer areas provide free access to riverside views across the Thames to St Paul's Cathedral and are popular even without a ticket to a performance.

What to See #

• Olivier Theatre: The Olivier Theatre is the National Theatre's largest auditorium with a fan-shaped auditorium and a thrust stage used for large-scale productions; seating capacity is around 1,100 to 1,200.
• Lyttelton Theatre: The Lyttelton Theatre is a flexible proscenium auditorium used for a wide range of productions with a seating capacity typically around 800 to 900.
• Dorfman Theatre: The Dorfman Theatre (formerly the Cottesloe) is the smallest main house, a flexible studio space seating roughly 400, used for experimental and new work.
• Foyers and terraces: Public foyers and riverside terraces on multiple levels provide free access to views across the River Thames towards St Paul's Cathedral and are used for exhibitions and dining.