Archive
The National Theatre’s Archive holds all the organisation’s creative, technical and business records. It covers the movement to found the theatre and documents every production from opening night in 1963 right up to the present day.
From props to prompt scripts, photographs to recordings – the Archive holds a treasure trove of material relating to theatre and performance. If that sounds like heaven to you, the Archive is free and open to everyone by appointment.
Volunteering at the National Theatre Archive
Opportunities will be advertised here as they become available. Unfortunately, we cannot respond to speculative applications.
Visit
We have an online catalogue (this link opens in new window), which can be used to search for items of interest. We provide research space for individuals and groups of up to 65.
Please book your visit via the booking form (this link opens in a new window). We are open for individual and group bookings on Mondays to Thursdays, 10am–1pm and 2–5pm.
For group visits of up to 25, please use the booking form. For groups of 25–60, please email archive@nationaltheatre.org.uk.
For other enquiries:
Get in touch via the Archive contact form.
Access
The Archive research room and seminar room are on the first floor. The NT Studio building has step-free access via a lift. There are 18 steps from the ground floor to the first floor, and 16 steps from the ground floor to the lower ground floor (the Archive store). The lower ground floor is not accessible for wheelchair users. The Studio does not have a hearing loop.
If you have any access requirements, please mention them on the Archive contact form or email us at archivestudio@nationaltheatre.org.uk.
Captions and audio description are available for some production recordings.
Please ask the team for more information.
Contact
Email: archive@nationaltheatre.org.uk
Phone: +44 (0)20 7452 3135
Address: National Theatre Archive, NT Studio, 83–101 The Cut, London SE1 8LL. We are next door to the Old Vic Theatre and a three-minute walk from Waterloo Station. Click here to see our location on Google maps (link opens in a new tab).
Video introductions to the Archive
Archive Unboxed: tours
Get hands-on with our history on a National Theatre Archive Unboxed tour.
Monthly tours. Located on The Cut, next to the Old Vic.
Black Plays Archive
The Black Plays Archive is an online catalogue of the first professional theatre production in the UK of plays written by African, Caribbean and Black British playwrights.
It includes a searchable database and essays from prominent Black British writers and academics.
You can also watch video interviews with playwrights such as Roy Williams and download educational resource packs for selected works (which you can also find on our Teacher Resource page).
Winsome Pinnock during Leave Taking rehearsals, 1995
Photo © Richard H Smith
In Search of Greek Theatre
Step inside the National Theatre’s Archive for this video collection on Greek tragedy.
The collection features short films on National Theatre productions, including Antigone (2012), Medea (2014), The Oresteia (1981) and The Oresteia (1999). The series is presented by Dr Lucy Jackson (Assistant Professor Greek Literature, Durham University) and Erin Lee (Head of Archive, National Theatre).
Four new films have now been added to the series, looking at Bacchae (1973) and Bacchai (2002), Iphigenia at Aulis (2004), Philoctetes (1964) and Paradise (2021), and Women of Troy (2007). Find out more about episodes 7 – 10.
The Jocelyn Herbert collection
The National Theatre also holds the archive of pioneering theatre designer Jocelyn Herbert. This unique collection includes masks, drawings and her correspondence with leading theatre figures of the 20th century, such as Samuel Beckett, John Osborne and Arnold Wesker.
Our funders
The National Theatre Archive is supported by John Hodgson Theatre Research Trust.
The Mohn Westlake Foundation supports nationwide Learning programmes for young people.
Nationwide learning is supported by Buffini Chao Foundation, Clore Duffield Foundation, Crevan O’Grady & Jane McClenahan, MFPA Trust Fund for the Training of Disabled Children in the Arts, The Kartik Foundation, The Alchemy Foundation, Behrens Foundation, Marlow Trust, Cleopatra Trust, and The Andor Charitable Trust.
Find out more about supporting our work
More to explore
Careers, opportunities and advice
Browse our jobs and career-advancing opportunities at the National Theatre.
Online exhibitions
Explore this series of digital exhibitions on theatre and performance, created in partnership with Google Arts and Culture.
Teacher resources
Explore resource packs and rehearsal diaries on previous National Theatre productions.