WHAT'S ON AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE, LONDON
What's On at the National Theatre, London
The National Theatre opened in 1976 and is a Grade II listed building. The National Theatre Company formed in 1963 with their first performance at The Old Vic under Sir Laurence Olivier. The NT has an impressive list of artistic directors, including Sir Peter Hall, Sir Richard Eyre, Sir Trevor Nunn, Sir Nicholas Hytner, Rufus Norris, and Indhu Rubasingham.
The National Theatre has three theatres. The Olivier Theatre holds around 1160 seats, the Lyttelton 890 seats, and the Dorfman Theatre 400 seats. It has a worldwide reputation for championing new writing, including the premiere of Amadeus, and encouraged a new generation of directors. NT live broadcasts productions in cinemas, NT At Home is a streaming service, NT Collection streams for education, and NT Connections is a yearly youth theatre festival.
National Theatre tours include Dear England, War Horse, and An Inspector Calls. Olivier Award Winning Hadestown runs in the West End. Other notable productions and shows include The History Boys, One Man, Two Guvnors, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, The Lehman Trilogy, and The Ocean At The End Of The Lane. You can book tickets online below for the National Theatre.
The National Theatre opened in 1976 and is a Grade II listed building. The National Theatre Company formed in 1963 with their first performance at The Old Vic under Sir Laurence Olivier. The NT has an impressive list of artistic directors, including Sir Peter Hall, Sir Richard Eyre, Sir Trevor Nunn, Sir Nicholas Hytner, Rufus Norris, and Indhu Rubasingham.
The National Theatre has three theatres. The Olivier Theatre holds around 1160 seats, the Lyttelton 890 seats, and the Dorfman Theatre 400 seats. It has a worldwide reputation for championing new writing, including the premiere of Amadeus, and encouraged a new generation of directors. NT live broadcasts productions in cinemas, NT At Home is a streaming service, NT Collection streams for education, and NT Connections is a yearly youth theatre festival.
National Theatre tours include Dear England, War Horse, and An Inspector Calls. Olivier Award Winning Hadestown runs in the West End. Other notable productions and shows include The History Boys, One Man, Two Guvnors, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, The Lehman Trilogy, and The Ocean At The End Of The Lane. You can book tickets online below for the National Theatre.
Most Popular Shows and Events at National Theatre, London
What's On at the National Theatre, London
War Horse
Olivier Theatre
Thursday 11 June - Thursday 30 July 2026
The global phenomenon gallops home to the National Theatre At the outbreak of the First World War, young Albert's beloved horse Joey is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. Too young to enlist, Albert refuses to forget him, embarking ...Pride
Dorfman Theatre
Thursday 11 June - Saturday 12 September 2026
Summer, 1984. With miners on strike across the country, 24-year-old activist Mark Ashton tries to rally a disparate group of gay men and lesbians into supporting the beleaguered miners. Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) quickly fi...The Misanthrope
Lyttelton Theatre
Tuesday 16 June - Saturday 1 August 2026
Sandra Oh takes the title role in a razor-sharp?reimagining of Moli?re?s classic Alice, a brilliant novelist, despises the hollow contemporary mantras of kindness and respect. But the bolder she becomes in speaking out, the more colleagues ...New Views Festival 2026
Olivier Theatre
Thursday 2 - Friday 3 July 2026
The New Views Festival is the culmination of our flagship playwriting programme for 14-19 year-olds. Throughout the past year, over 1,000 young people from across the UK have taken part in the New Views programme, penning their first stage ...Electra/Persona
Lyttelton Theatre
Wednesday 19 August - Saturday 10 October 2026
Featuring Cate Blanchett (The Seagull), Nina Hoss (The Cherry Orchard), and Ella Lily Hyland (Black Doves), Benedict Andrews' (A Streetcar Named Desire) thrilling new play fuses ancient myth and modern psychology in a powerful exploration o...The Story
Olivier Theatre
Thursday 27 August - Saturday 24 October 2026
There?s the truth and then there?s the story When a white teacher is killed in a black neighbourhood, four journalists race to get the headline ? at any cost. But when shocking new evidence pulls them into the dark heart of the case, they a...Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists
Dorfman Theatre
Saturday 19 - Saturday 26 September 2026
South Portugal, 2028. Catarina is about to kill her first fascist. It is a rite of passage, steeped in tradition and family lore. A day of celebration, of beauty and death. But when Catarina refuses to kill the hostage, her decision drives ...Some Woman
Dorfman Theatre
Wednesday 7 October - Saturday 21 November 2026
Julie Robson is used to being overlooked. At work, at home, everywhere in between. But when an encounter on a station platform goes wrong and all eyes are suddenly on Julie, something shifts within her and she feels compelled to make a stan...Cloud 9
Lyttelton Theatre
Monday 2 November 2026 - Wednesday 13 January 2027
A modern classic from one of Britain?s most influential playwrights In Victorian Africa, where Clive is a colonial administrator and patriarch, his wife, son and servant struggle to be what?s expected of them. When the family turn up a hund...The Jungle Book
Olivier Theatre
Friday 13 November 2026 - Saturday 6 February 2027
In the mangroves of the Sundarbans, wolves howl, birds soar and tigers roar. At the heart of this wild and vibrant kingdom, an unlikely child is growing up? Mowgli. Danger stalks the shadows, and threats lie hidden beneath every rock. To pr...The Rise and Fall of Little Voice
Dorfman Theatre
Wednesday 2 December 2026 - Saturday 23 January 2027
Alone in the sanctuary of her small bedroom, Little Voice fills the air with pitch‑perfect renditions of her deceased dad's prized record collection of the great Divas, from Judy Garland to Billie Holiday. But when her mother Mari's lates...How to get to the National Theatre, London
National Theatre Frequently Asked Questions
Upper Ground South Bank, London, SE1 9PX
National Theatre has an underground carpark which is accessed via the south-west corner of the National Theatre, on Upper Ground.
Tube - Waterloo, Southwark, Embankment
Bus - Nearest stops are Waterloo Bridge, Upper Ground, Waterloo Road, and Stamford Street.
The National Theatre has a seating capacity of 1160 in The Olivier Theatre.
Click here to view a seating plan.
For more information on tickets at The National Theatre, you can visit their ticket information page.
If you would like to buy a ticket in person from The National Theatre Box Office, they are open:
Monday - Saturday - 11am - 6pm
Alternatively, you can see what's on and book online here.
For individual shows and concerts, if the timing is not listed under our 'more info' tab for that particular event, you can contact National Theatre for further assistance and information.
Please click here for more information regarding access at The National Theatre
Whether you have positive or negative feedback you would like to feedback to the National Theatre, please click here to email them.
If you lose an item during a visit to the National Theatre, you can call them on 020 7452 3473.
Either use the map at the side of the FAQ section as it has all types of accomodation or click here for accommodation near the National Theatre.
The National Theatre has bars, restaurants and cafes where you can purchase food and drink. These may be allowed into the theatre.
Latecomers will only be admitted at a suitable break in the performance.
The National Theatre has numerous cafes, bars and restaurants.
Click here for some great places and ideas for food whilst in London.
You can visit the National Theatre's FAQ page.
You can visit the National Theatre's Contact us page.
Please note that LondonTheatres.com isn't the venue itself. We promote what's on at the National Theatre and all other venues in London and the local region. Feel free to contact us if you need more help though and we'll do our best to support you.
