The National Theatre at 50

Supporting Content

• Rufus Norris

  Mary Ann Sieghart presents a biographical sketch of British theatre director Rufus Norris.

  

  Duration: 13:00

• In Pictures: The National Theatre celebrates 50 years

  See photos of iconic productions and actors from O'Toole to Cumberbatch.

  

• More programmes marking the 50th Anniversary of the National Theatre

  On Radio 4:

  
  

  Sunday 6 October

  The Road to the National Theatre 

  A House for Shakespeare - Listen online
  

  
  

  Sunday 13 October

  The Road to the National Theatre

  Whose National Theatre? - Listen online
  
  

  
  

  On Radio 4 Extra:

  Saturday 19 October

  The National Theatre at 50 
  9.00am–12.00pm (rpt 7.00pm – 10.00pm)

  Daniel Rosenthal conjures up stories and scenes from five decades of a unique national institution, featuring big names, songs from the shows and secrets from behind the scenes.

  
  Sunday 20 October

  The National Theatre at 50: The Nativity
  11.00am – 12.00pm (rpt 7.00 – 8.00pm)
  Another chance to hear The Nativity from Bill Bryden's Royal National Theatre production of The Mysteries, based on the medieval plays of York, Wakefield and Chester, in a version by Tony Harrison.

  
  The National Theatre at 50: Elmina's Kitchen
  8.00pm – 9.30pm
  First performed at the National Theatre in 2003 the play won its author Kwame Kwei-Armah the Evening Standard Drama Awards Most Promising Playwright award.
  Ex-boxer Deli runs a cafe in Hackney. Keeping his son safe, his business alive and staying out of trouble is a full-time job in East London's notorious Murder Mile.

  
  Monday 21 October

  The National Theatre at 50: The Third Soldier Holds His Thighs
  7.00pm – 8.00pm
  In 1982 Mary Whitehouse brought a prosecution against Michael Bogdanov, director of the National Theatre, over the production of Howard Brenton’s The Romans in Britain, which included a simulated male rape. In Mark Lawson’s documentary drama about the case actors Peter Sproule and Greg Hicks play themselves, with Eleanor Bron as Mrs Mary Whitehouse and Simon Callow as Peter Hall.

  
  Monday 21 October – Friday 25 October

  The National Theatre at 50: The Passion Play 1/5
  2.30 – 2.45pm 
  Retold in five 15 minute episodes, this is Bill Bryden’s radio version of his National Theatre production of The Passion adapted from the medieval Mystery plays of York, Wakefield and Chesterfield and written by Tony Harrison.

  
  Saturday 26 October

  The History Boys
  7.00pm - 9.30pm

  
  Sunday 27 October

  Amadeus
  7.00pm - 9:15pm

  
  Sunday 3 November

  Pravda 
  7.00pm - 9.00pm

  On BBC4:

  
  Thursday 24 October

  Arena National Theatre

  Thursday 31 October

  Arena National Theatre

  On BBC2:

  
  Saturday 2 November

  National Theatre Live Event