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Royal National Theatre

Theatre in London, England

The National Theatre (NT), officially the Royal National Theatre since 1988 and sometimes referred to as the National Theatre of Great Britain, is a performing arts venue and associated theatre company located in London, England, adjacent to (but not part of) the Southbank Centre. The theatre was founded by Laurence Olivier in 1963 and many well-known actors have since performed with it. The company was based at The Old Vic theatre in Waterloo until 1976.2 It employed 931 people in 2025.1 Its revenue was £129 million in 2025.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1963Founded1

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National Theatre, London
Photo: Aurelien Guichard from London, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

The National Theatre (NT), officially the Royal National Theatre since 1988 and sometimes referred to as the National Theatre of Great Britain, is a performing arts venue and associated theatre company located in London, England, adjacent to (but not part of) the Southbank Centre. The theatre was founded by Laurence Olivier in 1963 and many well-known actors have since performed with it.2

Corporate structure

Royal National Theatre sits at the top of its group. 2 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • Royal National Theatre
    • Black Plays Archive Subsidiary · United Kingdom

Built from subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0); major holders from Schedules 13D and 13G. Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

In 1847, a critic using the pseudonym Dramaticus published a pamphlet describing the parlous state of British theatre. Production of serious plays was restricted to the patent theatres, and new plays were subjected to censorship by the Lord Chamberlain's Office. At the same time, there was a burgeoning theatre sector featuring a diet of low melodrama and musical burlesque; but critics described British theatre as driven by commercialism and a "star" system. There was a demand to commemorate serious theatre, with the "Shakespeare Committee" purchasing the playwright's birthplace for the nation demonstrating a recognition of the importance of "serious drama". The following year saw more pamphlets on a demand for a national theatre from London publisher Effingham Wilson. The situation continued, with a renewed call every decade for a national theatre. Attention was aroused in 1879 when the Comédie-Française took a residency at the Gaiety Theatre, described in The Times as representing "the highest aristocracy of the theatre". The principal demands now coalesced around: a structure in the capital that would form a permanent memorial to Shakespeare; an "exemplary theatre" company producing at the highest level of quality; and a centre from which appreciation of great drama could be spread as part of education throughout the country.

The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre was opened in Stratford upon Avon on 23 April 1879, with the New Shakespeare Company (now the Royal Shakespeare Company, RSC); then Herbert Beerbohm Tree founded an academy of dramatic art at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1904. This still left the capital without a national theatre. A London Shakespeare League was founded in 1902 to develop a Shakespeare National Theatre and – with the impending tercentenary in 1916 of his death – in 1913 purchased land for a theatre in Bloomsbury. This work was interrupted by World War I.

In 1910, George Bernard Shaw wrote a short comedy, The Dark Lady of the Sonnets, in which Shakespeare himself attempts to persuade Elizabeth I of the necessity of building a national theatre to stage his plays. The play was part of the long-term campaign to build a national theatre.

Finally, in 1948, the London County Council (LCC) presented a site close to the Royal Festival Hall for the purpose, so the National Theatre Act 1949 (12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 16), offering financial support, was passed by Parliament. Ten years after the foundation stone had been laid in 1951, the government declared that the nation could not afford a national theatre; in response, the LCC offered to waive any rent and pay half the construction costs. The government still tried to apply unacceptable conditions to save money, attempting to force the amalgamation of the existing publicly supported companies: the RSC, Sadler's Wells and Old Vic.

Following some initial inspirational steps taken with the opening of the Chichester Festival Theatre in Chichester in June 1962, the developments in London proceeded. In July 1962, with agreements finally reached, a board was set up to supervise construction, and a separate board was constituted to run the proposed National Theatre Company which would lease the Old Vic theatre in the interim. The National Theatre Company opened on 22 October 1963 with Hamlet, starring Peter O'Toole in the title role. The company was founded by Laurence Olivier, who became the first artistic director of the company. As fellow directors, he enlisted William Gaskill and John Dexter. Among the first ensemble of actors of the company were Robert Stephens, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright, Michael Gambon, Derek Jacobi, Lynn Redgrave, Michael Redgrave, Colin Blakely and Frank Finlay.

Meanwhile, construction of the permanent theatre proceeded with a design by architects Sir Denys Lasdun and Peter Softley and structural engineers Flint & Neill containing three stages, which opened individually between 1976 and 1977. The construction work was carried out by the Sir Robert McAlpine company.

The company remained at the Old Vic until 1976, when construction of the Olivier was complete.

From Wikipedia’s article on Royal National Theatre, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Products and brands

1963–73 (Laurence Olivier)

In 1962, the company of The Old Vic theatre was dissolved, and reconstituted as the "National Theatre Company" opening on 22 October 1963 with Hamlet. The company remained based in The Old Vic until the new buildings opened in February 1976. The National Theatre Board was established in February 1963, formally gaining the Royal prefix in 1988.

Hamlet, directed by Laurence Olivier, with Peter O'Toole in the title role and Michael Redgrave as Claudius (1963)

The Recruiting Officer, directed by William Gaskill with Laurence Olivier as Captain Brazen, Maggie Smith as Sylvia and Robert Stephens as Captain Plume (1963).

Othello, directed by John Dexter, with Laurence Olivier in the title role, Frank Finlay as Iago and Maggie Smith as Desdemona (1964)

Read the full text

The Royal Hunt of the Sun by Peter Shaffer, directed by John Dexter (1964); the National's first world premiere

Hay Fever, directed by Noël Coward starring Edith Evans as Judith, Maggie Smith as Myra, Derek Jacobi as Simon, Barbara Hicks as Clara, Anthony Nicholls as David, Robert Stephens as Sandy, Robert Lang as Richard, and Lynn Redgrave as Jackie (1964).

Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Franco Zeffirelli with Maggie Smith, Robert Stephens, Ian McKellen, Lynn Redgrave, Albert Finney, Michael York and Derek Jacobi among others (1965).

Miss Julie by August Strindberg, directed by Michael Elliott with Albert Finney and Maggie Smith in a double bill with Black Comedy by Peter Shaffer, directed by John Dexter with Derek Jacobi and Maggie Smith. (1965/66)

As You Like It directed by Clifford Williams, the all-male production with Ronald Pickup as Rosalind, Jeremy Brett as Orlando, Charles Kay as Celia, Derek Jacobi as Touchstone, Robert Stephens as Jaques (1967)

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard, directed by Derek Goldby, with John Stride and Edward Petherbridge (1967)

The Dance of Death by August Strindberg, with Laurence Olivier as Edgar, Geraldine McEwan as Alice and Robert Stephens as Kurt (1967)

Oedipus by Seneca translated by Ted Hughes, directed by Peter Brook, with John Gielgud as Oedipus, Irene Worth as Jocasta (1968)

The Merchant of Venice, directed by Jonathan Miller, with Laurence Olivier as Shylock and Joan Plowright as Portia (1970)

Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, directed by Ingmar Bergman, with Maggie Smith as Hedda (1970)

Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill, directed by Michael Blakemore, with Laurence Olivier as James Tyrone (1971)

Jumpers by Tom Stoppard, directed by Peter Wood, starring Michael Hordern and Diana Rigg (1972)

The Misanthrope by Molière, translated by Tony Harrison, directed by John Dexter with Alec McCowen and Diana Rigg (1973–74)

1973–88 (Peter Hall)

The Tempest with John Gielgud as Prospero, directed by Peter Hall (1974)

Eden End by J.B. Priestley, with Joan Plowright as Stella and Michael Jayston as Charles (1974)

No Man's Land by Harold Pinter, directed by Peter Hall, with Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud (1975)

Illuminatus!, an eight-hour five-play cycle from Ken Campbell's The Science Fiction Theatre of Liverpool (1977)

Bedroom Farce by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Peter Hall (1977)

Lark Rise by Keith Dewhurst, directed by Bill Bryden (1978)

Tales from the Vienna Woods by Ödön von Horváth, translated by Christopher Hampton, directed by Maximilian Schell, with Stephen Rea and Kate Nelligan

Plenty by David Hare, directed by the author, starring Stephen Moore and Kate Nelligan (1978)

Amadeus by Peter Shaffer, directed by Peter Hall, with Paul Scofield and Simon Callow (1979–80)

Galileo, by Bertolt Brecht, translated by Howard Brenton directed by John Dexter with Michael Gambon (1980)

The Romans in Britain by Howard Brenton, directed by Michael Bogdanov, subject of an unsuccessful private prosecution by Mary Whitehouse (1980)

The Oresteia by Aeschylus, translated by Tony Harrison, directed by Peter Hall (1981)

A Kind of Alaska, one-act play by Harold Pinter, directed by Peter Brook, starring Judi Dench. Inspired by Awakenings, by Oliver Sacks. (1982)

Guys and Dolls, the National's first musical, directed by Richard Eyre, starring Bob Hoskins, Julia McKenzie, Ian Charleson, and Julie Covington (1982)

Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet, directed by Bill Bryden, National Theatre premiere (1983)

Jean Seberg, musical with a book by Julian Barry, lyrics by Christopher Adler, and music by Marvin Hamlisch; directed by Peter Hall (1983)

Fool for Love by Sam Shepard, starring Ian Charleson and Julie Walters, directed by Peter Gill (1984)

The Mysteries from medieval Mystery plays in a version by Tony Harrison, directed by Bill Bryden (1985)

Pravda by Howard Brenton and David Hare, directed by David Hare, starring Anthony Hopkins (1985)

The American Clock by Arthur Miller, directed by Peter Wood (1986)

Antony and Cleopatra directed by Peter Hall, starring Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench (1987)

Happy Birthday, Sir Larry directed by Mike Ockrent and Jonathan Myerson, with a cast including Peggy Ashcroft, Peter Hall, Antony Sher, Albert Finney (31 May 1987) an 80th Birthday Tribute to Sir Laurence Olivier

1988–97 (Richard Eyre)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Howard Davies, starring Ian Charleson and Lindsay Duncan (1988)

Fuente Ovejuna by Lope de Vega, translated by Adrian Mitchell, directed by Declan Donnellan (1989)

Hamlet, starring Daniel Day-Lewis (later Ian Charleson) and Judi Dench, directed by Richard Eyre (1989)

The Voysey Inheritance, starring Jeremy Northam, directed by Richard Eyre

Richard III starring Ian McKellen and directed by Richard Eyre (1990)

Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, British premiere, directed by Steven Pimlott (1990)

The Madness of George III by Alan Bennett, directed by Nicholas Hytner, starring Nigel Hawthorne (1991)

Angels in America by Tony Kushner, British premiere, directed by Declan Donnellan (1991–92)

Carousel by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, directed by Nicholas Hytner (1993)

An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley, directed by Stephen Daldry (1992)

Racing Demon, Murmuring Judges, and The Absence of War, by David Hare, directed by Richard Eyre (1993)

Arcadia by Tom Stoppard, directed by Trevor Nunn (1993)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler, directed by Declan Donnellan (1993)

Hedda Gabler starring Fiona Shaw, directed by Deborah Warner (1993)

Les Parents Terribles by Jean Cocteau, directed by Sean Mathias (1994)

Women of Troy by Euripides, directed by Annie Castledine, starring Josette Bushell-Mingo, Rosemary Harris and Jane Birkin (1995)

A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler, directed by Sean Mathias, starring Judi Dench (1995)

Anna Karenina adapted by Helen Edmundson, starring Anne-Marie Duff (1996)

King Lear directed by Richard Eyre, starring Ian Holm (1997)

The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht, translated by Frank McGuinness, directed by Simon McBurney (1997)

1997–2003 (Trevor Nunn)

Copenhagen by Michael Frayn, directed by Michael Blakemore (1998)

Oklahoma! by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, directed by Trevor Nunn, starring Maureen Lipman and Hugh Jackman (1998)

Our Lady of Sligo by Sebastian Barry, directed by Max Stafford-Clark, starring Sinéad Cusack (1998)

An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen, directed by Trevor Nunn, starring Ian McKellen and Charlotte Cornwall (1998)

Candide by Leonard Bernstein, directed by John Caird assisted by Trevor Nunn (1999)

The Merchant of Venice directed by Trevor Nunn, starring Henry Goodman (1999)

Summerfolk by Maxim Gorky, directed by Trevor Nunn (1999)

Honk! (1999)

Money by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, directed by John Caird (1999)

Albert Speer by David Edgar, starring Alex Jennings (2000)

Blue/Orange by Joe Penhall directed by Roger Michell, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Bill Nighy and Andrew Lincoln (2000)

The Island by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona, directed by Peter Brook and performed by Kani and Ntshona (2000)

Far Side of the Moon written, directed and performed by Robert Lepage (2001)

Humble Boy by Charlotte Jones directed by John Caird, starring Simon Russell Beale (2001)

South Pacific by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, directed by Trevor Nunn, starring Philip Quast and Lauren Kennedy (2001)

The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare directed by Nicholas Hytner, starring Alex Jennings and Phil Daniels (2001)

Vincent in Brixton by Nicholas Wright, directed by Richard Eyre, starring Clare Higgins (2002)

The Coast of Utopia, a trilogy by Tom Stoppard, comprising Voyage, Shipwreck and Salvage, directed by Trevor Nunn, with computerised video designs by William Dudley (2002)

Anything Goes by Cole Porter, directed by Trevor Nunn, starring John Barrowman and Sally Ann Triplett (2002)

Dinner by Moira Buffini, starring Harriet Walter, Nicholas Farrell and Catherine McCormack, directed by Fiona Buffini (2002)

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, starring Glenn Close, Iain Glen and Essie Davis, directed by Trevor Nunn (2002)

2003–15 (Nicholas Hytner)

Henry V by William Shakespeare, directed by Nicholas Hytner starring Adrian Lester (2003)

Jerry Springer: The Opera, a musical by Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas (2003)

His Dark Materials, a two-part adaptation of Philip Pullman's novel directed by Nicholas Hytner starring Anna Maxwell Martin, Dominic Cooper, Patricia Hodge and Niamh Cusack (2003)

The History Boys by Alan Bennett, directed by Nicholas Hytner, starring Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour and Dominic Cooper (2004)

Coram Boy by Helen Edmundson, starring Bertie Carvel and Paul Ritter (2005–2006)

Laurence Olivier Celebratory Performance directed by Nicholas Hytner and Angus MacKechnie. A one-off tribute to Lord Laurence Olivier, the National's first director, in his centenary year and starring Richard Attenborough, Claire Bloom, Rory Kinnear, and Alex Jennings (23 September 2007)

War Horse based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford, directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, presented in association with Handspring (2007–2009)

Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Nicholas Hytner, starring Simon Russell Beale and Zoë Wanamaker (2007–2008)

Never So Good by Howard Brenton, directed by Howard Davies starring Jeremy Irons (2008)

Mother Courage and Her Children, by Bertolt Brecht, starring Fiona Shaw (2009)

Phèdre featuring Helen Mirren, Margaret Tyzack and Dominic Cooper, directed by Nicholas Hytner (2009)

The Habit of Art, by Alan Bennett, starring Richard Griffiths, directed by Nicholas Hytner(2010)

Frankenstein, directed by Danny Boyle and starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller (2011)

One Man, Two Guvnors, based on Servant of Two Masters by Richard Bean, starring James Corden, directed by Nicholas Hytner (2011)

London Road, a musical by Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork, directed by Rufus Norris (2011)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Simon Stephens, adapted from the novel of the same name by Mark Haddon, starring Luke Treadaway, Nicola Walker, Niamh Cusack and Paul Ritter (2012).

Othello by William Shakespeare starring Adrian Lester and Rory Kinnear, directed by Nicholas Hytner (2013)

National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage. Celebrating the 50th anniversary, a selection of scenes from various productions in the National Theatre's history, featuring Angels in America, One Man, Two Guvnors, London Road, Jerry Springer: The Opera and Guys and Dolls, featuring Maggie Smith, Derek Jacobi, Adrian Lester, Joan Plowright, Judi Dench, Rory Kinnear, Helen Mirren and Alex Jennings. Directed by Nicholas Hytner and designed by Mark Thompson(2013)

King Lear by William Shakespeare, starring Simon Russell Beale, directed by Sam Mendes (2014)

2015–25 (Rufus Norris)

Everyman adapted by Carol Ann Duffy, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, directed by Rufus Norris (2015)

People, Places & Things by Duncan MacMillan, directed by Jeremy Herrin, starring Denise Gough (2015)

Cleansed by Sarah Kane, directed by Katie Mitchell (2016)

The Deep Blue Sea by Terence Rattigan, directed by Carrie Cracknell starring Helen McCrory (2016)

Amadeus by Peter Shaffer, directed by Michael Longhurst, starring Lucian Msamati and Adam Gillen (2016 and 2018)

Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, directed by Ivo van Hove, starring Ruth Wilson, a re-working of the production previously staged at the Toneelgrope Amsterdam and New York Theatre Workshop (2016)

Les Blancs by Lorraine Hansberry, final text adapted by Robert Nemiroff, directed by Yaël Farber, starring Danny Sapani and Siân Phillips (2016)

Angels in America by Tony Kushner, directed by Marianne Elliott, starring Andrew Garfield, Denise Gough, James McArdle, Russell Tovey and Nathan Lane (2017)

Follies, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Goldman, directed by Dominic Cooke, starring Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Philip Quast and Tracie Bennett (2017; return engagement in 2019)

Beginning by David Eldridge, directed by Polly Findlay (2017)

Network, directed by Ivo van Hove, based on the 1976 film by Sidney Lumet, adapted by Lee Hall, starring Bryan Cranston (2017)

John by Annie Baker, directed by James Macdonald (2018)

Nine Night by Natasha Gordon, directed by Roy Alexander Weise, starring Cecilia Noble (2018)

Translations by Brian Friel, directed by Ian Rickson, starring Colin Morgan and Ciarán Hinds (2018)

Julie by Polly Stenham, directed by Carrie Cracknell, starring Vanessa Kirby and Eric Kofi Abrefa (2018)

An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, directed by Ned Bennett, a co-production with Orange Tree Theatre (2018)

The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini, adapted by Ben Power, directed by Sam Mendes, starring Adam Godley, Ben Miles, and Simon Russell Beale, a co-production with Neal Street Productions (2018)

Pericles by William Shakespeare, adapted by Chris Bush, directed by Emily Lim, the first Public Acts production (2018)

Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare, directed by Simon Godwin, starring Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo (2018)

Hadestown, music, lyrics, and book by Anaïs Mitchell, directed by Rachel Chavkin (2018)

When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other: Twelve Variations on Samuel Richardson's Pamela by Martin Crimp, directed by Katie Mitchell, starring Cate Blanchett and Stephen Dillane (2019)

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, adapted by Joel Horwood, directed by Katy Rudd (2019)

The Crucible by Arthur Miller, directed by Lyndsey Turner and designed by Es Devlin (2022)

Standing at the Sky's Edge book by Chris Bush with songs by Richard Hawley (2023)

Dear England by James Graham directed by Rupert Gould (2023)

The Witches by Roald Dahl, music and lyrics by Dave Malloy, book and lyrics by Lucy Kirkwood, directed by Lyndsey Turner (2023)

The House of Bernarda Alba, adapted by Alice Birch, directed by Rebecca Frecknall (2023)

Dear Octopus, by Dodie Smith, directed by Emily Burns

Nye by Tim Price, directed by Rufus Norris, starring Michael Sheen (2024)

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, directed by Max Webster, starring Sharon D. Clarke and Ncuti Gatwa (2024)

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild, adapted by Kendall Feaver, directed by Katy Rudd (2024)

Here We Are, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by David Ives, directed by Joe Mantello (2025)

Inter Alia, by Suzie Miller, directed by Justin Miller, starring Rosamund Pike (2025) – later transferring to the West End at Wyndham's Theatre (2026)

2025–present (Indhu Rubasingham)

Bacchae by Nima Taleghani after Euripides, directed by Indhu Rubasingham (2025)

The Playboy of the Western World by John Millington Synge, directed by Caitríona McLaughlin, starring Nicola Coughlan and Siobhán McSweeney (2025)

Les Liaisons Dangereuses, adapted by Christopher Hampton, directed by Marianne Elliot, starring Lesley Manville, Monica Barbaro and Aiden Turner (2026)

The Misanthrope, adapted by Martin Crimp, directed by Indhu Rubasingham, starring Sandra Oh, Paul Chahidi and Abigail Cruttenden (2026)

From Wikipedia’s article on Royal National Theatre, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Subsidiaries and ownership

Subsidiaries

  • Black Plays Archive

From Wikidata.1

Employees over time

Royal National Theatre employees by year1931 in 2025−21% since 2017
05001.0K1.5K2017: 1.2K1.2K20172018: 1.2K1.2K2018+1%2019: 1.2K1.2K2019+2%2020: 1.2K1.2K2020−2%2021: 7597592021−36%2024: 8408402024+11%2025: 9319312025+11%
  • 20259311
  • 20248401
  • 20217591
  • 20201,1881
  • 20191,2131
  • 20181,1881
  • 20171,1731

Revenue over time

As stated on Wikidata, in the currency reported.

Revenue

Royal National Theatre revenue by year1128.7M GBP in 2025+23% since 2017
050.0M GBP100.0M GBP150.0M GBP2017: 104.7M GBP104.7M GBP20172018: 107.8M GBP107.8M GBP2018+3%2019: 107.6M GBP107.6M GBP2019−0%2020: 106.9M GBP106.9M GBP2020−1%2021: 56.3M GBP56.3M GBP2021−47%2022: 80.8M GBP80.8M GBP2022+44%2023: 89.0M GBP89.0M GBP2023+10%2024: 121.4M GBP121.4M GBP2024+36%2025: 128.7M GBP128.7M GBP2025+6%
  • 2025128.7M GBP1
  • 2024121.4M GBP1
  • 202389.0M GBP1
  • 202280.8M GBP1
  • 202156.3M GBP1
  • 2020106.9M GBP1

Timeline

  1. 1963Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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