The National Theatre General Thread

We'd better stick together then. 😁

I go the BFI, I got to sit next to some original artwork from Captain Pugwash last time - that was more thrilling than the production in the National!

The above reminds me of a conversation at a staff meeting the other week, one of the gallery duty managers 'Do I need to tell you I saw a dead rat outside?' General manager: 'As long as it wasn't inside and alive, no'

(we are very close to the water so it's not THAT surprising there's a few kicking about)

All theatres have mice, they're as everywhere on the Underground too, take comfort that mice and rats wont co-exist, so where there are mice, there are no rats.

The kitchen restaurant serves delicious food, especially if you are a non-meat eater, or follow a plant based diet and it is all very good value for money.

I think the toilets in the Barbican are more dated.

I think that's elephants.

This is a very good point. Thirty years ago you could have a meal, a snack or just a drink and could listen to some music in the foyer with or without seeing a show. Times change, obviously and people can't keep away from the Internet for long!  And it is puzzling it looks tattier now four years after a refit than it did before. 

If, like us, you're someone who lives a long way from London and going to the NT involves a long drive or train and tube journeys, you may just want to sit/eat/drink in the NT rather than then have to go elsewhere and the recent times we've gone there it has been difficult to find a table to sit at because there are so many people with a laptop and one cup of coffee. There last week for Hadestown, at 6pm before the evening performance there was an announcement asking people not going to a show to leave so theatregoers could have seats and some went and some didn't.

I guess one thing the NT could do (but probably won't) is do some sort of survey over various days to see how many hang around for hours with one drink (how much does that add to NT profits?) and don't ever see a show and how many go for a coffee and the wifi and then see a show. 

Do the older theatres have people in their bars all day? Are they public spaces? 

Maybe  the NT could decide if it's a theatre which happens to have a public space attached or a public space which happens to have a theatre attached? 

And I wonder if Rufus Norris will hang on to the NT as it's title now, having made a statement about dropping the 'Royal'  suffix as having put people off going there, now the Duchess of Sussex is its new Patron or put it back? Can't say I've heard of any other 'Royal' theatres around the country planning to drop their 'Royal', or suggesting it puts people off going. 

P.S. Whoever thought it was a good idea to put the NT box office by the entrance doors should obviously be forced to spend time there. The poor box office staff have to wear coats to work there in the winter. 

I’ve never heard the NT referred to as the Royal NT. Just isn’t used. Royal Opera House, yes, Royal National theatre kinda not used, is it?

Yes, the decision not to use it dates back to Hytner, although I think they did briefly rebrand? (as Emicardiff beat me to saying!)

Judeh is correct though that Norris has recently talked about handing back the royal charter altogether - www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/national-theatre-boss-royal-in-title-isnt-always-useful-37381079.html

An all mouse production of Assassins Creed? 

I've never had the good fortune to see a mouse there! I like the little ones you see on the tube tracks, although I always go on to think about how they must be deaf with all the noise and their little lungs are full of soot and for all of their short lives, they will never play in the grass in the fresh air

I also don't get the hate for pigeons - they're trying to find something to eat people! Have compassion! There are a few with feet missing in Waterloo and I always feel sorry for them.

AND NOW that I've got my feelings about vermin out of the way... I love the NT's open foyer. The only time people shouldn't be welcomed into a public space if if they're causing trouble or danger - that's the ONLY time. There are some really nasty posts in this thread, and I would take them for a joke if I hadn't seen the same people comment similar things in other threads.

Bless the NT and its patient, helpful staff for fostering a pleasant atmosphere to sit and have a drink, or to work for a bit, or to meet friends before a show.

Not yet... they're getting closer though... following their tiny mouse comrade...

You're right, oh my God. It's called "bumblefoot," apparently. Which... is an oddly sweet name for something so disgusting.