Author, Daniel Rosenthal, conjures up stories and scenes from five decades of a unique national institution, based on London's South Bank.

How did an episode of BBC Radio 3's ‘Private Passions’ inspire Alan Bennett when he was writing ‘The History Boys’?

How did the death of JFK affect Denys Lasdun, the architect for the National Theatre building on London's South Bank?

‘The National Theatre with Daniel Rosenthal’ features some of the National's biggest names but also goes backstage to hear the unsung heroes working in wardrobe, as prop designers, puppet makers, stage managers and front of house, over the years.

With excerpts from BBC archive programmes, the National Theatre Archive and Daniel Rosenthal's own personal recordings.

In the first of three episodes - the theatre's early years features the opening ceremony of the whole complex by Her Majesty The Queen on the 25th of October 1976.

In THE REUNION - Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Derek Jacobi and Joan Plowright recall the triumphant early years of The National Theatre Company, in an especially evocative edition from 2009.

Producer: Tamsin Hughes

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in October 2013. Show less