Olivier Theatre

The Olivier Theatre takes its name from the first artistic director of the National Theatre, Laurence Olivier. The auditorium was designed to resemble the theatre at Epidaurus in Greece, with the seating arranged in a fan-like fashion around a circular stage.

The Olivier Theatre is the largest of the three auditoriums at the National Theatre, completed by the Lyttelton Theatre and the Dorfman Theatre.

The stage itself is famous for its drum-revolve, effectively enabling the stage to split into two allowing scenic changes to take place underneath the stage and then be rotated into place within seconds.

Olivier Theatre Seating Information

The auditorium has two levels, Stalls and Circle, both of which are steeply raked, offering exceptional views from all seats. The Olivier Theatre still manages to feel rather intimate, guaranteeing a connection with the actors on stage.