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National Theatre
National Theatre, London (officially renamed the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain on its Silver Jubilee in 1988). The establishment of a permanent state-subsidized theatre in London, on the lines of the Comédie-Française, was first suggested by David Garrick in the 18th century, and in the 19th century both Irving and Bulwer-Lytton were enthusiastic supporters of the idea. It was not until 1908, however, that a committee was set up to investigate the possibility of opening such a theatre in 1916 to celebrate the tercentenary of Shakespeare's death. A large sum of money had been subscribed and a foundation stone laid on a site in Gower Street when the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 brought the project to a standstill. In 1938 another site in South Kensington was acquired and a second foundation stone laid by G. B. Shaw. The outbreak of the Second World War a year later caused further delay, and it was not until 1951 that the idea was taken up again. A more ambitious plan was launched, and the site moved to the South Bank of the Thames, where a third foundation stone was laid. In 1961 a decision was taken to found a National Theatre company under Laurence Olivier, to be housed in the Old Vic Theatre pending the erection of a new building on a site downstream from the third foundation stone, below Waterloo Bridge. Performances began at the Old Vic in 1963.
The new building, designed by Denys Lasdun, is a vast complex housing three theatres with extensive backstage accommodation, rehearsal rooms, and workshops, dressing rooms for 150 actors, and a large foyer for exhibitions and informal entertainment. Work began on the site in 1969 and on 16 Mar. 1976 the first theatre, the Lyttelton, gave its opening performance, followed on 25 Oct. by the Olivier and on 4 Nov. 1977 by the Cottesloe. The South Bank Theatre Board is responsible for the structure. In 1973, after Olivier had resigned owing to ill health, Peter Hall took over, remaining until 1988. He was succeeded by Richard Eyre as Artistic Director, working jointly with David Aukin as Executive Director until the latter's departure in 1990. A full UK touring programme was initiated in 1989 with a joint production of Molière's The Misanthrope with the Bristol Old Vic. The National Theatre Studio opened in 1984 under Peter Gill. An experimental workshop which encourages new writing, it is based in the Old Vic Annexe. |
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PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "National Theatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 6 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "National Theatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 6, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-NationalTheatre.html PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "National Theatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Retrieved February 06, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-NationalTheatre.html |
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National Theatre
National Theatre, since 1988 the Royal National Theatre, a three-auditorium complex on London's South Bank devoted to the spectrum of world drama. Initially proposed as early as 1848, the idea of a National Theatre Company only became a living reality at the Old Vic in 1963 under the direction of Laurence Olivier: its early successes included standard classics as well as new plays by Stoppard, Shaffer and P. Nichols. In 1976 it moved into its South Bank home designed by Sir Denys Lasdun where, under the direction of Peter Hall, Richard Eyre, Trevor Nunn, and Nicholas Hytner, its repertoire has ranged from Aeschylus and Sophocles to Brecht, O'Casey, and popular musicals; but it has achieved particular success with new plays including the trilogy by D. Hare, charting the decline of British institutions under Thatcherism, The Madness of George III by Alan Bennett, Arcadia by Stoppard, and numerous others.
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MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "National Theatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 6 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "National Theatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (February 6, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-NationalTheatre.html MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "National Theatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved February 06, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-NationalTheatre.html |
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Royal National Theatre
Royal National Theatre a government-funded repertory company based in London. Although the idea for such a company originated in the 19th cent., the National Theatre was not finally established until 1963, with Laurence Olivier appointed as director. Temporarily housed at first in the Old Vic theater, the company opened with Hamlet in 1963. Peter Hall took over the directorship in 1973, and the National Theatre complex opened in 1976-77 in its new building on the south bank of the Thames. In 1988 the name of the company was changed to the Royal National Theatre, and Richard Eyre took over as director. Eyre was succeeded by Trevor Nunn in 1997 and Nicholas Hytner in 2003. The National Theatre engages many of England's most talented actors, directors, and designers to produce its repertory of classic and modern plays. |
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"Royal National Theatre." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 6 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Royal National Theatre." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 6, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-RoyalNat.html "Royal National Theatre." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 06, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-RoyalNat.html |
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National Theatre
National Theatre Permanent theatre company usually subsidized by the state and housed in one venue, where national classics of drama are performed in repertory. The oldest national theatre is the Comédie-Française in Paris, founded in 1680. The National Theatre of Great Britain, first advocated by Garrick, only became a reality in the 1960s. Its first production, Hamlet, took place on October 22, 1963, at the Old Vic Theatre. Sir Peter Hall succeeded Laurence Olivier as artistic director (1973–88). In October 1976, new buildings designed by Sir Denys Lasdun officially opened and comprise the Lyttleton Theatre, the Olivier Theatre, and the Cottesloe Theatre. Other directors include Sir Richard Eyre (1988–97), Trevor Nunn (1997–2002), and Nicholas Hytner (2002– ).
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"National Theatre." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 6 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "National Theatre." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 6, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-NationalTheatre.html "National Theatre." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 06, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-NationalTheatre.html |
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National Theatre
National Theatre. First proposed by Effingham Wilson (1848), but bedevilled by false starts, conflicts of interest, and two world wars, the idea of a state theatre received parliamentary approval (1949) but the promised funding was not forthcoming. The National Theatre company was finally incorporated in 1963, with Laurence Olivier as director and the Old Vic providing a nucleus of actors, but it was not until 1976, after financial difficulties and criticism, that the company moved into its permanent home, a three-theatre complex on the South Bank (London), partly state subsidized. Since 1988 the prefix ‘Royal’ has been permitted.
A. S. Hargreaves |
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JOHN CANNON. "National Theatre." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 6 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "National Theatre." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (February 6, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-NationalTheatre.html JOHN CANNON. "National Theatre." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved February 06, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-NationalTheatre.html |
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National Theatre
National Theatre First proposed by Effingham Wilson (1848), the idea of a state theatre received parliamentary approval (1949) but the promised funding was not forthcoming. The National Theatre company was finally incorporated in 1963,with Laurence Olivier as director, but it was not until 1976, after financial difficulties and criticism, that the company moved into its permanent home, a three‐theatre complex on the South Bank (London).
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JOHN CANNON. "National Theatre." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 6 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "National Theatre." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 6, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-NationalTheatre.html JOHN CANNON. "National Theatre." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved February 06, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-NationalTheatre.html |
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National Theatre
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Cite this article
PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "National Theatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 6 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "National Theatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 6, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-NationalTheatre1.html PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "National Theatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Retrieved February 06, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-NationalTheatre1.html |
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National Theatre
National Theatre, Washington, see WASHINGTON.
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Cite this article
PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "National Theatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 6 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "National Theatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 6, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-NationalTheatre2.html PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "National Theatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Retrieved February 06, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-NationalTheatre2.html |
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