National Theatre: Cottesloe

National Theatre: Cottesloe

The Royal National Theatre, London, England, is generally known as the National Theatre and commonly as The National. It is located on the South Bank in the London Borough of Lambeth, England, immediately east of the southern end of Waterloo Bridge. The National Theatre's building was designed by architect Sir Denys Lasdun and its theatres opened individually between 1976 and 1977. In the years from 1963, before the company's permanent home on the South Bank was completed, the National Theatre Company was based at the Old Vic theatre in Waterloo.

Since 1988, the Theatre has been permitted to call itself the Royal National Theatre, but the full title is rarely used. The theatre presents a varied programme, including Shakespeare and other International classic drama; and new plays by contemporary playwrights. Each auditorium in the theatre can run up to three shows in repertoire or repertory, thus further widening the number of plays which can be put on during any one season.