Building    From 1976 

National Theatre

Categories: Theatre

First proposed in 1848, the gestation of the NT is complex (see the NT's own site). The first site for the NT was acquired in 1913, immediately behind the British Museum, at the corner of Gower Street and Keppel Street. Here a “Shakespeare Hut” was used for entertaining the troops in WW1 but the site was sold in 1922 and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was built there. Various other sites were considered and then in 1938 another site was purchased, Cromwell Gardens, opposite the Victoria and Albert Museum. In 1942 the LCC exchanged this site with one on the South Bank, to the west of Waterloo Bridge, and Sir Edwin Lutyens and Mr Masey designed a building. The 1951 foundation stone was laid at this site but a year later it was agreed with the LCC that the theatre should be further west, next to County Hall.

Denys Lasdun was selected as the architect. Meanwhile theatrical productions were put on at the Old Vic and on 22 October 1963 the newly formed "National Theatre Company" opened its first play, Hamlet. Thus there were celebrations in 2013 for the 50th anniversary of the company, even though the building came much later.

In 1967 the site was moved for the last time to the current site (obviously). Building began but it was much delayed and the 1976 foundation stone was laid when only the Lyttelton and Olivier stages were operating. The Cottesloe opened in March 1977. The 1988 plaque commemorates the renaming to the "Royal" National Theatre marking the 25th anniversary of the company's first performance.

In the 1990s millions were spent renovating the building. At that time Lasdun's style was out of favour and the changes introduced caused Lasdun to demand his name be removed from the 1976 stone (we can see that his wishes were not acted upon).

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
National Theatre

Commemorated ati

Morley mosaics - WBR - Lilian Baylis

Lilian Baylis, born 1874. A niece of Emma Cons, Lilian flourished as a theatr...

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National Theatre foundation - 1951

British Pathe have film of this ceremony: The Queen Mum looks pretty experien...

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National Theatre foundation - 1976

The National Theatre, opened by the Queen on 25 October 1976, designed for th...

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National Theatre foundation - 1988

{Around Her head:} HM Queen Elizabeth Patron Royal National Theatre This pla...

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Other Subjects

Albert Finney

Albert Finney

Actor. Born Salford. In 1960 Finney and Olivier worked together on The Entertainer, directed by Tony Richardson, at the time married to Vanessa Redgrave. He died of a chest infection, aged 82 year...

Person, Cinema, Theatre

1 memorial
Richard Burton

Richard Burton

Actor. Born Richard Walter Jenkins at Pont-rhyd-y-fen, Wales. He was adopted by his English teacher Philip Burton, and took his surname. His first theatrical success was in Christopher Fry's 'The L...

Person, Cinema, Theatre, TV & Radio, Switzerland, Wales

1 memorial
Adam Faith

Adam Faith

Singer and actor. Born as Terence Nelhams Wright at 4 Churchfield Road East, Acton. He was spotted while playing in a skiffle group in the 2i's Coffee Bar Soho, and subsequently made his first appe...

Person, Music / songs, Theatre, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Unity Theatre

Unity Theatre

Unity Theatre grew out of the agitprop street theatre in the East End of London in the early 1930's. The theatre, a converted chapel, was destroyed by fire in 1975.

Place, Theatre

2 memorials
Alison Steadman

Alison Steadman

Actor. Born Liverpool. Married Mike Leigh. Has worked very successfully in the theatre, cinema, TV and radio.

Person, Cinema, Theatre, TV & Radio

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Naomi Blake

Naomi Blake

Born Czechoslovakia around 1924 to 1927. Survived Auschwitz though most of her family did not. 1955-60 she studied at Hornsey School of Art.

Person, Sculpture, Czechoslovakia

1 memorial
President Lincoln bust

President Lincoln bust

EC3, Royal Exchange Buildings, Royal Exchange

Easily missed, this bust was brought to our attention by IanVisits.  It's at the eastern entrance to the building.

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
English Hedonists

English Hedonists

The artist Carrie Reichardt is part of this group, probably its main artist, "Mad in England" being her trademark. 2018: Via Facebook Carrie kindly confirmed that she had made this series for a co...

Group, History, Humour

7 memorials
Heal's furniture store

Heal's furniture store

John Harris Heal established a feather dressing business at 33 Rathbone Place, moving to Tottenham Court Road in 1818. This became a family business selling beds and moved to larger premises in the...

Group, Craft / Design, Politics & Administration

2 memorials
St John's Wood Heritage

St John's Wood Heritage

We can find no information but assume this is/was a group created to protect the heritage of St John's Wood.

Group, Community / Clubs, History

1 memorial