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The National Theatre at 50

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The Road to the National Theatre

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Dramas, documentaries and interviews marking the 50th anniversary of the National Theatre

A series of dramas, documentaries and interviews celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Theatre

The National Theatre at 50: The Road to the National Theatre: Episode 1: A House for Shakespeare

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Episode 1

Episode 1: A House for Shakespeare

A House for Shakespeare

BBC Radio 4 Extra - The National Theatre at 50, The Road to the National Theatre, A House for Shakespeare

James Naughtie traces the story of the theatre's founding from 1848 to the World War I.

4 Extra Debut. James Naughtie explores why the UK took until 1963 to found its National Theatre, and what was learned along the way. From October 2013.

As the National Theatre approaches its 50th anniversary, James Naughtie traces the long road to its foundation, and explores whether the struggles and delays in fact resulted in a more versatile and creative establishment than elsewhere in Europe.

Episode One: A House for Shakespeare

France has had a national theatre since 1680, Greece since 1880. The National Theatre in London is a youngster by comparison, with plans to celebrate its 50th birthday in October 2013.

For the homeland of Shakespeare, this may seem anomalous, but as James Naughtie investigates the reasons why the founding of a National Theatre took so long, he comes to the conclusion that the delays resulted in an unusually versatile, creative and popular cultural institution.

In Episode One, James Naughtie traces the story from 1848, when the radical publisher Effingham Wilson publishes a pamphlet called A House for Shakespeare, to the years of the First World War when hopes for a fitting celebration of the tricentenary of Shakespeare's death were at first dashed and then met in an unexpected way. 

He speaks with Nicholas Hytner, Richard Eyre, Michael Frayn, Michael Billington and Jacky Bratton, as well as listening to the voices of Laurence Olivier, Sybil Thordyke and other theatrical luminaries in the BBC Archives, tracing a story in which the arts, history, politics and national identity share the stage.



Readings: Simon Russell Beale

Producer: Beaty Rubens.

The National Theatre at 50: The Road to the National Theatre

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

James Naughtie investigates the founding of the National Theatre

As the National Theatre approaches its 50th anniversary, James Naughtie sets out to discover why founding it took so long and what was learned along the way

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