National Theatre

The National Theatre, also referred to as the Royal National Theatre, opened its doors to the public on October 22, 1963, after a century of trying to establish a national theater in the United Kingdom. Since its very first production, Shakespeare's Hamlet, the National Theatre has remained steadfast in its dedication to bringing theater to the public. Each year, over 1,000 performances by the 150- person company reach an audience of 600,000. Though the National Theatre is located on the South Bank of the Thames River in London, the theater engages a global audience through streamed and broadcast performances, international touring, and expansive educational programming. This programming ranges from family events held at the National Theatre to productions and projects across London that link to classroom curriculums for primary and secondary education. Central to the National Theatre's work is the belief that everyone, regardless of background, has access to the transformative and inspirational power of this art form.