Royal National Theatre

The Royal National Theatre is a theatre complex built between 1969 and 1976 by Sir Denys Lasdun. It is constructed from reinforced concrete and features flat roofs. The building is square in shape, housing the lower 895-seat Lyttelton auditorium in alignment with the first floor 1165-seat Olivier auditorium, which is positioned at a forty-five degree angle to the main facades. These two auditoria are connected at the level of the river embankment by paired foyers that extend the full height of the building, along with exhibition spaces and restaurants on multiple levels that lead to outside walkways. Projecting flytowers for the two main auditoria break the continuity of the horizontal forms. At the rear, there are workshops, rehearsal spaces, and dressing rooms, along with a separate entrance and foyer for the 400-seat studio space known as the Cottesloe theatre. The building features metal windows and doors, and the interiors retain original furnishings in the foyer areas and auditoria. The National Theatre stands as a significant public building from the post-war era, showcasing innovative concepts in theatre design.