American Express® Experiences
American Express and the National Theatre have been working in partnership since 2011, to provide Cardmembers with exclusive access to presale tickets and reserved seating for National Theatre productions, at the South Bank and for shows that transfer to the West End.
Presale and reserved seating
Reserved seating for American Express Cardmembers is available for these productions:
- Ballet Shoes
- Coriolanus
- A Tupperware of Ashes
- The Other Place
- The Importance of Being Earnest
- Dear England
- Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre – booking is via Nimax Theatres
American Express® Cardmember access
To check and book presale and reserved seating availability for American Express Cardmembers:
- visit any of the show pages listed below
- click on the ‘Dates and select tickets’ link
- then enter the first four digits of your Card number (the long number on the front of the Card) using the ‘Unlock Amex tickets’ link.
Reserved seating for American Express Cardmembers
Book now for these productions at the National Theatre:
Booking now
Ballet Shoes
Coriolanus
A Tupperware of Ashes
The Other Place
The Importance of Being Earnest
Dear England
Reserved seating for American Express Cardmembers
Available to book directly from West End theatres and The Lowry.
Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre
The Tony and Grammy Award®-winning musical phenomenon by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and director Rachel Chavkin, made its long-awaited West End premiere in February 2024.
Tickets available directly from Nimax Theatres in the West End
Info and tickets – Lyric Theatre
The Lehman Trilogy at the Gillian Lynne Theatre
The landmark Tony Award®-winning production returns for a strictly limited encore season this autumn. 24 September 2024 to 5 January 2025.
Tickets available directly from LW Theatres (LWT)
Info and tickets – LWT
Dear England at The Lowry
James Graham’s Olivier-Award winning smash-hit, directed by Rupert Gould, plays at The Lowry for four weeks: 29 May – 29 June 2025.
Tickets available directly from The Lowry
Info and tickets – The Lowry
Cardmember Benefits
Behind the Scenes with American Express
Saturdays at 5.15pm
Running Time: 1 hour approx
Go behind the scenes at the National Theatre on a complimentary guided tour.
Find out how the National Theatre stages numerous world-class productions every year and discover how props, scenery and special effects are all created at our South Bank home.
Led by one of our expert guides, this 60-minute tour looks into our carpentry, props and scenic painting workshops to see our sets being made ready for the stage, and also includes a visit to at least one of our three auditoriums.
For booking details and Terms and Conditions:
Pre-booking is required and tickets are subject to availability. Tickets are booked via the Amex Behind the Scenes date listing page on the National Theatre site.
Click Book now below and then click on the American Express Experiences/ Unlock Amex tickets button on the next page and enter the first four digits of your American Express Card number in the pop-up before selecting your preferred date.
Tours that have ticket availability will be made clear after entering your American Express card digits.
Terms and Conditions
The National Theatre will run American Express Behind the scenes tours, complimentary for Cardmembers.
These tours will be for up to 22 people and are limited to 4 x per Cardmember.
These tours will run each Saturday from 5.15pm
Children aged 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult. We regret that we are unable to accommodate children under the age of five on Guided Tours, this includes babies and children in pushchairs.
Maximum of four tickets per Cardmember.
American Express Cardmembers receive 10% off at National Theatre bars.
Visit any of our Theatre Bars at the National Theatre Southbank and receive 10% off when you pay on your American Express® Card.
Offer includes house beers and lagers, house wines (175ml), single spirit and mixer, soft drinks and snacks.
Please make your server aware you are paying with your American Express Card to benefit from this offer.
Terms and conditions apply:
- Offer valid while supplies last. Royal National Theatre Enterprises Ltd (the ‘National Theatre’) and American Express reserve the right to modify or discontinue the offer at any time without notice.
- Offer valid during theatre bar opening times. Rennie’s Bar in the main foyer opens an hour before, and during intervals of, performances in the Lyttelton Theatre. Olivier performance bars, in the stalls and circle foyers of the Olivier Theatre, open just before performances and during intervals. Dorfman theatre Bar and café, in the Dorfman foyer, is open just before performances and during intervals.
- Offer not valid at the Understudy bar or KERB @ The Understudy.
- Drinks available as part of the offer: house beers and lagers, house wines (175ml), single spirit and mixer, and soft drinks. All snacks available as part of this offer.
- Offer excludes Champagne, Nyetimber and cocktails.
- Offer only available at National Theatre South Bank Theatre Bars, no other theatre is taking part in the offer.
- Offer is redeemable during bar opening hours at The Long Bar in the Lyttleton Theatre, Olivier Theatre Bars and the Dorfman Theatre Bar. Offer is not available in The Understudy Bar or KERB @ The Understudy, Lasdun or Forza Wine.
- Discount is at point of purchase only.
- Please make your server aware that you are paying with your Amex Card at the time of payment (especially when paying on contactless) to ensure you receive the offer.
- Fulfilment of this offer is the sole responsibility of The National Theatre.
- Discount not redeemable for cash.
American Express Cardmembers receive 10% off at National Theatre bookshop.
Visit our bookshop at the National Theatre Southbank and receive 10% off when you pay on your American Express® Card.
Terms and conditions apply:
- Royal National Theatre Enterprises Ltd (the “National Theatre”) and American Express reserve the right to modify or discontinue the offer at any time without notice.
- Offer valid during bookshop opening times. Monday–Saturday 10am–10.30pm (excluding bank holidays)
- Offer only valid at the National Theatre bookshop, Upper Ground, London SE1 9PX. Offer not available online and no other theatre is taking part in the offer.
- Offer excludes certain items in the National Theatre bookshop including alcohol and honey. The National Theatre may update the list of excluded items from time to time.
- Discount is at point of purchase only.
- Please make the staff member aware that you are paying with your Amex Card at the time of payment (especially when paying on contactless) to ensure you receive the offer.
- Fulfilment of this offer is the sole responsibility of the National Theatre.
- Discount not redeemable for cash.
American Express and the National Theatre
American Express supports the National Theatre through several different strands of commercial and philanthropic activity on both sides of the Atlantic.
As well as being the National Theatre’s Preferred Payment Partner, American Express also supports a number of individual productions – these have included Pinocchio at the South Bank, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and Beginning in the West End and the critically acclaimed production of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America in New York.
The American Express Foundation is also a valued supporter of the National Theatre and since 2011 has provided vital funding to expand the reach of the National’s work.