Author, Daniel Rosenthal, conjures up stories and scenes from five decades of a unique national institution:

‘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 this episode, more controversy over funding and Laurence Olivier’s efforts to master the auditorium’s acoustics.

We hear from Jane Horrocks, Henry Goodman, David Thacker, Margot Leicester, Judi Dench, Nicholas Hytner, Clive Rowe, Rosie Beatty, Adrian Kohler, Michelle Terry, Richard Eyre, Laurence Olivier and Peter Hall.

Productions featured include: ‘Little Voice’, ‘War Horse’ and ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’.

Producer: Tamsin Hughes

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