The National on Tour FAQs
Does the National go on tour?
The first tour was of Laurence Olivier's production of Uncle Vanya, visiting Newcastle in 1964. The first foreign tour was to Moscow in 1965.
To live up to its name and be truly national, the National takes its work beyond its South Bank home as a representative of British theatre throughout the UK and the world. Plays from the main repertoire and specially-mounted small-scale productions make up an annual touring programme which is carried out without affecting the company's work in London.
How is touring funded?
Touring, both nationally and internationally, does not draw on the company's main Arts Council grant but is funded separately by either the Arts Council's Touring budget, the British Council, the host venue, sponsorship, or a combination of these.
And what about the National as host?
Since moving to the South Bank, the National has played host to numerous companies from overseas, including Peter Stein's Schaubühne company from Berlin, the Market Theatre from Johannesburg, the Ninagawa company from Tokyo, the Moscow Art Theatre, the Bulandra Company from Bucharest, the Contemporary Legend Theatre from Taiwan, Comédie Française, Robert Lepage, the Abbey Theatre, and as part of The European Arts Festival, Giorgio Strehler's Piccolo Theatre from Milan.
Who pays for visiting companies from abroad?
All these visits from abroad are funded by either the guest company, their government, or sponsorship from here or overseas. A small amount of money comes from Visiting Arts, but none of the National's subsidy is used.
How about co-productions?
In 1989 the National pioneered co-productions with regional and touring theatre companies. Since then the National has co-produced with the Bristol Old Vic; the Belgrade Theatre; Coventry; Nottingham Playhouse; Birmingham Rep; Shared Experience; Theatre de Complicite; Alley Theatre, Houston; Out of Joint; the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool; Abbey Theatre, Dublin; Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough; Kneehigh Theatre from Cornwall; and Tara Arts.
Do National Theatre productions ever transfer to the West End or Broadway?
Yes. At the beginning of 1999 for example, four plays from the National were playing in the West End, and three on Broadway.
