World Theatre Day Poll: The nation's favourite theatres announced

To celebrate World Theatre Day, we asked you to name your favourite theatre on the planet, and the results are in. In reverse order, your top 10 favourites are:

10. The Royal Albert Hall

Inaugurated in 1871, The Royal Albert Hall is located in Kensington, London and has a capacity of 5272 seats. It has been home to the Proms concerts since 1941 and also hosts live theatre, orchestra and sports events as well as award ceremonies including the upcoming Olivier Awards.

9. Chichester Festival Theatre

Just off the south coast is theatre hub that has quickly become one of the biggest regional powerhouses – with Chichester Festival Theatre productions of Caroline, Or Change, King Lear and Quiz all transferring into the West End in 2018. No wonder the 1962 venue is close to a lot of hearts!

8. Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Recently home to the tip top tap show 42nd Street, Theatre Royal Drury Lane is something of a grandfather to the West End, Drury Lane is situated on the oldest theatre site in London still in use. It might be at number 8 now, but with scheduled renovations to come the newly revamped venue might shoot up the list.

7. Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Founded in 1932, the Open Air Theatre has become a summer treat for London audiences. With open-air screenings, opera, theatre and drama all occurring on its stage, the 1200-capacity venue has hosted some storming productions in its time, including the revival of Jesus Christ Superstar in 2016 and 2017.

6. Almeida Theatre

The small north London venue, with its bare brick back wall and 325 seats, regularly transfers its productions into the West End. Allowing punts to see stars including Ralph Fiennes, Andrew Scott and Anne-Marie Duff up close and personal on its boards, it's won over a lot of hearts in its time.

5. The Minack Theatre

The Cornish open-air theatre, situated four miles from Land's End, is a coastal delight, with performers having the open sea as their backdrop. First used as a performance space in the 1930s, it has since become something of a legendary venue and holds a respectable fifth place on our list.

4. The London Palladium

The quintessential West End venue, the London Palladium on Argyll Street is the regular host of the Royal Variety Performance, and recently welcomed a new production of The King and I. Built in 1910 and owned by the lord of musical theatre himself Andrew Lloyd Webber, it's no surprise that it has almost hit a podium position on our list.

3. Shakespeare's Globe

Though only just over two decades old, Shakespeare's Globe is a stalwart of London theatre, with its lovingly crafted venue recreating the 16th- and 17th-century playhouses used by Bard-era playwrights. A mixture of groundlings and seated spectators gather in what is a truly unique theatrical experience, which battles for the Bronze spot on our list.

2. The Old Vic

Almost 200 years-young and still one of the most vibrant venues in the country, The Old Vic takes silver in our poll. The venue will be celebrating its birthday next month too, so there's even more to celebrate. Interestingly enough, the venue is actually a year older than Queen Victoria, which makes it truly historic.

1. The National Theatre

Could there be any other winning the day? It's perhaps not too surprising that the nation's theatre, made up of the Olivier, Lyttelton and Dorfman stages and first opened in 1977, took the leading spot in our national poll. With a raft of in-house productions running simultaneously as well as a number of touring productions across the UK, it seems fitting that the South Bank venue took the top prize.