Theatre News

National Theatre announces final farewell platform for the Temporary Theatre

The National’s red theatre will close on 7 May

The temporary NT Shed stands in front of the National Theatre
The temporary NT Shed stands in front of the National Theatre

A final farewell platform has been announced to mark the closing of the National Theatre's Temporary Theatre.

The theatre, which was originally known as The Shed, opened in 2013 as a space to present new work by emerging artists. Since it opened, 32 plays have been staged in the theatre, including Home, Brainstorm, Table and the most recent Another World: Losing Our Children to Islamic State.

Ben Power, deputy artistic director at the National, was in charge of the programming for the space and said: "The Temporary Theatre has allowed the National Theatre to take risks, celebrating emerging writers and directors as well as musicians, comedians, dancers and established theatre-makers taking new approaches."

A final platform will be held at the theatre on 4 May to celebrate the Temporary Theatre. WhatsOnStage critic Matt Trueman will host the event with Power and writer and actor Michaela Coel (Chewing Gum Dreams and Blurred Lines).

Since it opened 156, 340 audience members have attended the theatre and the space has seen 91 per cent attendance capacity. It is hoped that the newly renovated Dorfman Theatre will take on the mantle of staging experimental theatre.