London is one of the most famous centres of theatre life in the world, home to countless diverse and striking theatres. Each one has a unique history and character. Within their walls lie thousands of grand premieres, countless rehearsals, demolitions, and reconstructions. People sometimes travel from all over the world just to admire the incredible architecture of these buildings and immerse themselves in this unique world for a couple of hours. The history of theatre in London is full of many events, and you can recall and recreate most of them by visiting the National Theatre Archive. What secrets does this place hold, and why is it so valuable to the British capital? Read on to find out more on  london-trend.
Founding and features of the archive
The history of the National Theatre Archive actually began in 1963 with the first National Theatre premiere. The archive documents the theatre’s founding process and every production from its first show to the present day. It holds materials including all creative, technical, and administrative records of the National Theatre. This place is a London treasure trove, as it reflects the history of one of the city’s most important spheres of life. The collections include not only photographs but also audio recordings. You can trace the evolution of props and find more interesting items, such as original prompt scripts.
A key feature is that both individuals and groups can access the materials. However, you need to book in advance. It’s a unique research space, so it’s often used by school and university students. You can visit the National Theatre Archive in person. The building itself is located near the Old Vic Theatre. On the ground floor, visitors will find a seminar room and a research room. The basement holds the most exciting part: the archive’s vault. It’s also easy to get there by public transport, as Waterloo Station is nearby. However, you don’t always have to visit the building to see the materials. You can do it online using the existing catalogue, which includes a number of incredible collections: the Royal National Theatre collection, the Black British Playwrights Archive, the Jocelyn Herbert Collection, the Shakespeare Memorial National Theatre Collection, the Philip Carter Archive, and others.
A diversity of collections
Given the list of collections mentioned above, it’s clear the archive’s holdings are truly diverse and extensive. One of the most interesting is the Black Plays Archive. This unique resource catalogues the history of professional productions of plays by Black British, African, and Caribbean playwrights in the UK. Another original part of the National Theatre Archive is the video collection dedicated to Greek theatre. It contains short films about productions, including “The Oresteia” (1981), “The Oresteia” (1999), “Antigone” (2012), and “Medea” (2014). These aren’t just clips from past shows; they’re also a kind of research into the defining features of Greek theatre.
The Jocelyn Herbert Collection is also fascinating. It highlights the extraordinarily long and rich career of the artist. Here you can find masks, drawings, and letters from the artist to leading theatre figures of the 20th century. Overall, every exhibit and document in the National Theatre Archive offers a glimpse into the world of theatre.
