National Theatre, London 1977

The National Theatre on London’s South Bank has its roots in a long campaign for a publicly funded national theatre, an idea first proposed in the mid-19th century. However, it wasn’t until 1949 that a formal commitment was made with the passing of the National Theatre Act.

The company initially performed at the Old Vic Theatre under the direction of Laurence Olivier, who became its first artistic director when the National Theatre Company was formally established in 1963.

The dedicated National Theatre building on the South Bank was designed by architect Denys Lasdun in a bold Brutalist style. Construction began in 1969, and the complex opened in stages during the mid-1970s. The first theatre, the Olivier Theatre (named for Olivier himself), opened in 1976, followed by the Lyttelton Theatre and the smaller Cottesloe Theatre (now called the Dorfman Theatre).

Since then, the National Theatre has become one of Britain’s leading cultural institutions, staging a wide range of productions from classical plays to new writing. Its home on the South Bank is a key part of London’s arts landscape, sitting alongside the Royal Festival Hall and other major venues.