From the Old Vic to London's South Bank. Quiz

Answer: Royal Victorian Theatre

Originally founded in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, from 1824 it brought Shakespeare six nights of the week with the legendary actor Edmund Keane. Keane regarded his role as bringing high art to the masses south of the river. In 1833 it was renamed The Royal Victorian Theatre, after the future Queen.

It was renamed again in 1880 to The Royal Victoria Hall and Coffee Tavern, and was run on strict temperance lines. By this time it was already known as the 'Old Vic'.

Answer: John Gielgud

The productions continued until the start of WWII, alternating between drama and ballet, until the opening of the Sadlers Wells Theatre in 1935 gave a permanent home to the ballet company. Although known as the butler in the movie 'Arthur', John Gielgud was one of England's most brilliant actors, with a definitive version of 'Hamlet', among many roles.

Answer: The Victoria Theatre, Burnley, Lancashire

Although the depleted company mostly toured from 1940-1943, Burnley proved to be a safe haven during the worst of the bombing of London. Theatres in London had to maintain a strict blackout during the Blitz.

Answer: Laurence Olivier

Lawrence Olivier attended the Central School of Speech and Drama at the age of 17. In 1926, he joined The Birmingham Repertory Company, where he learned a wide variety of roles. He disagreed vehemently with John Gielgud's portrayal of Shakespearean roles, and they agreed to play alternate roles on different nights.

The public was drawn to Olivier, who moved to Hollywood in the 1950s to create some of his most famous movie parts.

Answer: 1963

After WWII a foundation stone was laid in 1951 to establish a National Theatre. Ten years later the Government declared that it could not afford to go forward with the project. After much haggling between the London County Council and the Government, agreement was reached to refurbish the Old Vic, to become the first home of the National Theatre, under the Artistic Direction of the then Sir Laurence Olivier.

Answer: Hamlet

Directed by Laurence Olivier in its most complete form, the first production of "Hamlet", starred Peter O'Toole in the title role, and Michael Redgrave as Claudius. The theatre critics of the time hated the production, and regarded O'Toole as badly miscast. He terrified his fellow actors with his drinking, but was adored by the crowd.

Answer: Peter Hall

Laurence Olivier retired in 1973, as Lord Olivier, having been responsible for a wide variety of notable productions beyond Shakespeare. These included such playwrights as Tom Stoppard, Peter Schaffer, Eugene O'Neill, August Strindberg and Moliere. Also introducing such brilliant actors as Maggie Smith, Derek Jacobi, Geraldine McEwen, Jeremy Brett and Robert Stephens, to name but a few.

Answer: 1976

Peter Hall successfully transferred the Company in 1976, remaining as Artistic Dirctor until 1988. He had founded and run the Royal Shakespeare
Company, prior to joining the National, and was knighted in 1999.

During his tenure as Artistic Director, The National presented such outstanding plays as 'Plenty' by David Hare; 'Amadeus' by Peter Shaffer (with Paul Schofield playing Salieri); 'Galileo' by Bertold Brecht; 'Glengarry Glen Ross' by David Mamet and Shakespeare's 'Antony and Cleopatra' with Anthony Hopkins and Judy Dench in the title roles.

Answer: 'Hamlet' - William Shakespeare

Peter Hall's production of 'Hamlet' opened at the Lyttleton Theatre, with Albert Finney in the title role. Finney played the part as 'a burly, athletic, Lancashire-accented, unprincely, modern, hard-bitten young man, racing through his poetic speeches sporting a Samurai headband.' It was received with interest by the critics.

Answer: 3

The Olivier Theatre (named after Lord Olivier) seats approximately 1600.
The Lyttleton Theatre (named after Oliver Lyttleton, first Chairman of the National Theatre Board) has seating for 890. The Cottesloe Theatre (named after Lord Cottesloe, Chairman of the South Bank Theatre Board) is a small adaptable studio space, holding up to 400 people. In 2014 it was renamed the Dorfman Theatre in honor of Lloyd Dorfman.

Answer: It was modelled on the ancient Greek theatre at Epidurus with an open stage and fan-shaped seating.

The Olivier houses the Drum Revolve, a unique piece of stage technology, with two revolving drums that revolve two separate stages, facilitating fluid and dramatic scenery changes. It was able to add a wonderful new production tool for many types of plays.

Answer: All of these.

The public open-spaces of terraces and foyers have offered a wide variety of ad hoc experimental performances, and dynamic display and exhibition areas, giving the theatre-goer a larger and more social experience than could be found at a regular theatre.

Answer: Prince Charles

In contrast, Sir John Betjeman, Poet Laureate, with great enthusiasm wrote to the architect, stating that he had "... gasped with delight at the cube of your theatre in the pale blue sky and a glimpse of St. Paul's to the south of it. It is a lovely work and good from so many angles".

There were many varied opinions that were inevitable with the placing of a radical new building in an ancient city.

Answer: The Royal National Theatre

The use of Royal in the title denotes the placing of a Royal Warrant upon the company, showing that the Windsors also go to the theatre. However, in general the formal title is little used, as it continues to be called The National, by the vast majority of people.

Answer: Laurence Olivier

The statue was erected to honor Lord Olivier as perhaps England's finest actor of the 20th Century and to mark the centenary of the first Artistic Director of the National, in one of his most definitive roles.