National Theatre

The National Theatre is one of South Bank’s most distinctive landmarks and has a formidable global reputation for producing outstanding theatre.

The building itself is an icon of Brutalist architecture, considered to be architect Denys Lasdun’s most accomplished masterpiece. Whether you are coming to watch a play or just to have a drink at one of the bars, it’s an impressive construction to admire from both the outside and from within its cleverly designed public spaces.

National Theatre’s three stages

The National Theatre has three stages and typically presents more than 20 different productions a year.

The Olivier stage, named after the National’s first director Laurence Olivier, is a 1,115 seat fan-shaped auditorium built in the style of an amphitheatre. The Lyttelton is a proscenium theatre, where it is said that you can see and hear almost equally well from each of its 890 seats.

The smallest and most flexible stage is the Dorfman Theatre, which can hold up to 450 people in conventional, “traverse” or in-the-round formats.

Where to eat and drink at National Theatre

On the ground floor opening out onto the Queen’s Walk is The Understudy, a casual bar known for its south London-brewed craft beers, and an adjoining street food counter KERB at The Understudy where you can get flavoursome noodle bowls from SEN Noods, Amernian flatbreads and dips from Sireli or excellent smashburgers from Meltdown. In the summer a huge terrace spreads out across the piazza in front of the bar making this a wonderfully casual spot to soak up the sun with a drink.

One floor up from The Understudy is Lasdun, the National Theatre’s critically acclaimed restaurant. Launched by the team from the award-winning Marksman in Hackney, Lasdun is known for its elegant modernist surroundings, refined atmosphere and top-notch British brasserie cuisine. For a special occasion lunch or dinner this is the spot, with the best of British luxuries on the menu including Dorset crab and Jersey rock oysters.

On the other side of the main theatre entrance, opposite the BFI and Waterloo Bridge, the National Theatre Café also opens out onto the Queen's Walk and in the summer months KERB's summer pop-up brings live pop-up bars and street food trucks to the riverside. On the terrace above you'll spot Forza Wine, a hip boutique wine bar with an ‘Italian-ish’ small plates menu.

Go behind-the-scenes

Guided tours of the theatre take place six days a week with expert guides leading visitors on a 75-minute tour that includes the opportunity to visit the on-site carpentry, props and scenic painting workshops and to see the auditoriums being prepared for a show. During the school holidays the theatre also runs special family tours.

If you don’t have enough time for a tour, a visit to the Sherling Backstage Walkway is another fascinating detour. This purposed-designed elevated walkway gallery winds its way through the backstage areas offering glimpses in to the theatre's many different workshops such as the prop and costume design workshops and the set painting rooms. Along the way insightful descriptions shed light on the different activities taking place on any given day and the outstanding technology involved in the theatre's productions.

If you are passionate about theatre and theatre production a visit to the excellent National Theatre Bookshop is another must. Stacked with books about theatre, acting, theatre production and playwriting, it also has some fun theatre-related gifts and souvenirs, including decorative pieces referencing the National's iconic brutalist architecture.

Discounted tickets and Friday Rush deals

Every Friday at 1pm ticket sales open online for the Friday Rush. The Friday Rush tickets are only available for shows happening in the following week and are limited in number. All Friday Rush tickets cost just £10 making this something well worth setting an alarm for!

Every day at 10am a limited number of tickets are available at the theatre box office for shows happening on that day. These tickets must be bought in person and are limited to two per person. Make sure to arrive early to get a good place in the queue.