The National Theatre has announced a major programme of celebrations to mark 50 years of its iconic South Bank building, including a new public installation featuring stories from some of theatre’s biggest names and the launch of a new apprenticeship scheme.
Launching in October 2026, Stories Start Here: 50 Stories for 50 Years will celebrate five decades of creativity, innovation and world-class productions from the National Theatre’s home on London’s South Bank.
The free installation will feature personal stories and reflections from artists, audiences, staff and creatives connected to the National Theatre, including Hugh Jackman, Lesley Manville, Lucian Msamati, David Oyelowo, Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter. Historic voices featured include Laurence Olivier, Peter Hall and the building’s architect, Denys Lasdun.
Installed on Queen’s Walk outside the National Theatre, the project takes the form of a wooden structure inspired by the Olivier Theatre’s distinctive amphitheatre seating. Visitors will be invited to sit, listen and explore stories connected to the building’s history, traditions and hidden corners.
The stories will also be made available worldwide through the National Theatre’s free digital guide on Bloomberg Connects.
Alongside the anniversary celebrations, the National Theatre has announced the new Sir Denys Lasdun Mechanical & Electrical Apprenticeship, which will provide hands-on training in engineering and building maintenance skills essential to the operation of a major cultural venue.
The apprenticeship forms part of the National Theatre Skills Centre, which currently supports nearly 6,000 people annually and aims to develop and preserve specialist technical skills for future generations.
The installation has been designed and fabricated by La Cuarta Piel and co-curated by Financial Times theatre critic Sarah Hemming and National Theatre Special Projects Producer Katurah Morrish.
The National Theatre’s South Bank home was built between 1969 and 1976 and was designed by Denys Lasdun. Initially divisive, the Grade II listed building is now widely regarded as one of Britain’s most significant examples of Brutalist architecture.
Today, the National Theatre reaches audiences around the world through touring productions, NT Live cinema screenings, NT at Home and the NT Collection education platform, with work seen in every UK local authority and 184 countries worldwide.
Indhu Rubasingham, Director and Co-Chief Executive of the National Theatre, said: “For 50 years, the National Theatre’s South Bank building has been a place where artists, audiences and communities have come together to share stories that help us understand ourselves and one another. It was created with the conviction that great theatre should belong to everyone, and that artistic excellence and public access go hand in hand. At a time when so much of modern life encourages us to retreat into our own worlds, theatre remains one of the few places where we gather collectively, embrace complexity and experience something together.”
Kate Varah, Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive of the National Theatre, said: “This anniversary offers a moment of renewal, hope and celebration of the NT’s remarkable legacy, and a physical reminder of the cultural foundations that we as a nation have been given to build on. Yet like many major cultural buildings across the UK, the NT now faces significant capital and modernisation needs. Looking after this extraordinary building isn’t simply about preserving an architectural landmark. It’s about protecting the creative home of a national institution whose work generates £241 million in Gross Value Added for the UK economy every year, with one third of that impact created outside London. And a lot of joy.”
Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: “For 50 years, the National Theatre’s iconic South Bank building has been a beacon of world-class creativity, brought to life by the performers, designers and technicians who inspire and entertain millions. Its impact reaches far beyond London with groundbreaking productions, community programmes and nationwide partnerships.
“The new Sir Denys Lasdun Apprenticeship is a really exciting way to mark this milestone, and will support our driving mission to make exceptional careers in the arts accessible to everyone.”
Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “The 50th anniversary of the National Theatre’s South Bank home is a celebration not just of an iconic institution but of everything that makes London’s cultural sector so special. For five decades the National Theatre has showcased British theatre at its very best, nurtured talent, and made a huge contribution to our city’s rich cultural heritage and global reputation. It’s fitting that this milestone is being marked by investing in the next generation through new apprenticeships. This new programme will help aspiring theatre makers, craftspeople and technicians develop the skills they need to keep London’s world-leading creative industries thriving for decades to come as we continue to build a better London for everyone.”
More information can be found here.
