"The National Theatre: A Place for Plays" -- A Celebration

	Symposium on Theatre and Architecture in the Olivier Theatre

On Sunday, October 30, to celebrate the 40th year of the National Theatre in its Denys Lasdun-designed building on the South Bank, the ABTT, in association with the National Theatre, organized an all-day Symposium on Theatre and Architecture in the Olivier Theatre. Almost 300 participants attended.

Four panels of distinguished speakers examined the relationship between architecture and theatre; the advances of theatre technology; the advent of the courtyard theatre and the return to more three-dimensional performance spaces; and the likely future for a changing theatrical landscape. The day came to a climax with a demonstration of the recently restored drum revolve in action.

Under Symposium directors Paule Constable and Richard Pilbrow, with chairmen Gavin Henderson (principal, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama) and Mark Shenton (columnist, The Stage), the distinguished speakers included director of the National Theatre, Rufus Norris; architects Steve Tompkins, Tim Foster, Patrick Dillon, and Fred Pilbrow; theatre designers Ian MacNeill, William Dudley, Paul Arditti, Gareth Fry, Em Chapman, Chloe Lamford, and Rob Halliday; theatre consultants Michael Holden, Anne Minors, Mark Stroomer, Iain Mackintosh, and Peter Ruthven Hall; technical director of the National Theatre, Jonathan Suffolk; and key National Theatre creative personnel, Dan Murfin, Toby Coffey, Steve Colley, and Mylan Lester; acousticians Rob Harris and Richard Cowell; author Daniel Rosenthal; producer Nick Starr; director Lyndsey Turner; production manager, Jason Barnes; stage manager Shane Thorn; with manufacturers Mark White (ETC) and Kevin Taylor (Tait Towers).

A spirited discussion with the participating audience on the contradictions encountered in building and equipping theatre, followed. Finally the raising of a toast to the National's happy birthday concluded an exciting day. Liza Burger, executive director graciously responded to the toast.

Richard Pilbrow commented: "This was an exciting day in the Olivier Theatre. Some of the leading figures in our industry frankly discussing the dichotomy that always seems to exist between architecture and theatre, and how communications can be improved in building theatres for the future."

The event was made possible thanks to collaboration and support from the Aedas Arts Team, the Association of Lighting Designers (ALD), the Association of Sound Designers (ASD), Autograph, Buro Four, Charcoal Blue, Creative Technology, ETC, ET Now, Foster Wilson Architects, GDS, Haworth Tompkins, the Institute of Theatre Consultants, Martin Harman, Pilbrow and Partners, The Society of British Theatre Designers (SBTD), the Society for Theatre Research (STR), Sound Space Vision, Tait Stage Technologies, The Mackintosh Foundation, Theatre Plan, Theatre Projects, The Theatres Trust, and White Light.