National Theatre celebrates 50 years with free South Bank stories

A wooden structure inspired by the Olivier Theatre’s seating will stand on Queen’s Walk from October 2026. The National Theatre said the installation, Stories Start Here: 50 Stories for 50 Years, will let visitors hear memories from those who have worked, performed or watched productions in the building. The recordings will also be accessible worldwide through the Bloomberg Connects app, as reported by the BBC.

Inside the theatre, a story station will print the accounts on eco-friendly paper for visitors to take home. The installation was designed by the collective la cuarta piel and curated with Financial Times theatre critic Sarah Hemming. Arup and Sir Robert McAlpine, firms involved in the original construction, are supporting the anniversary project.

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Apprenticeship honours architect

The theatre has launched an apprenticeship named after Sir Denys Lasdun, the architect behind the South Bank building. The programme will train participants in the mechanical and electrical engineering skills needed to maintain the Grade II listed structure. It will run through the NT Skills Centre, which the theatre said trains thousands of people across the UK each year in partnership with Bank of America.

Indhu Rubasingham, director and co-chief executive of the National Theatre, said the building had been "a place where artists, audiences and communities have come together to share stories". The theatre was based at the Old Vic for 13 years before moving into its current home, which was built between 1969 and 1976.

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“A place where artists, audiences and communities have come together to share stories.”

Indhu Rubasingham, director and co-chief executive, National Theatre

Brutalist landmark faces modern challenges

When it opened, the National Theatre’s design divided opinion. Its textured concrete, riverside terraces and three auditoriums are now considered key examples of brutalist architecture. Kate Varah, executive director and co-chief executive, said the building, like many major UK cultural venues, requires significant capital investment and modernisation.

The installation will remain on Queen’s Walk for an unspecified duration. No details have been released about whether the stories will be archived beyond the app or the printed copies. The National Theatre has not confirmed if the apprenticeship will continue after its initial intake.