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| The Queen visits the National Theatre as it turns 50 | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have visited the National Theatre, as the institution celebrates its 50th birthday. | |
| They were given a backstage tour by outgoing director Sir Nicholas Hytner and watched rehearsals for forthcoming family show Emil and the Detectives. | |
| Their visit marked the anniversary of the first performance at the theatre | |
| Peter O'Toole opened the venue on 22 October 1963, playing Hamlet under the eye of founder Sir Laurence Olivier. | Peter O'Toole opened the venue on 22 October 1963, playing Hamlet under the eye of founder Sir Laurence Olivier. |
| More than 800 productions have taken place at the venue in the intervening 50 years, including premieres of plays by Tom Stoppard, Peter Shaffer, Harold Pinter, Alan Bennett and David Hare. | More than 800 productions have taken place at the venue in the intervening 50 years, including premieres of plays by Tom Stoppard, Peter Shaffer, Harold Pinter, Alan Bennett and David Hare. |
| During their visit, the Queen and Prince Philip enjoyed a musical number from Guys and Dolls, which was the first musical staged at the National, in 1982. | |
| Starring Bob Hoskins and Julia McKenzie, the production ran for four years, breaking all box office records. | Starring Bob Hoskins and Julia McKenzie, the production ran for four years, breaking all box office records. |
| The royal visitors also visited the props workshop and unveil a plaque to commemorate the theatre's 50th anniversary. | |
| Dame Judi 'thrilled' | Dame Judi 'thrilled' |
| Originally based at the Old Vic, the NT moved to the South Bank in 1976, where it remains. | Originally based at the Old Vic, the NT moved to the South Bank in 1976, where it remains. |
| It also has a foot planted in the West End, where several of its productions - including War Horse and One Man, Two Guv'nors - have transferred. | It also has a foot planted in the West End, where several of its productions - including War Horse and One Man, Two Guv'nors - have transferred. |
| The institution's 50th year is being marked by a series of events, including a star-studded gala on 2 November. | The institution's 50th year is being marked by a series of events, including a star-studded gala on 2 November. |
| Famous alumni including Dame Judi Dench, Simon Russell Beale, Sir Michael Gambon, Sir Derek Jacobi and Dame Maggie Smith, will perform speeches from roles they have played there. | Famous alumni including Dame Judi Dench, Simon Russell Beale, Sir Michael Gambon, Sir Derek Jacobi and Dame Maggie Smith, will perform speeches from roles they have played there. |
| Dame Maggie will reprise her role as Mrs Sullen in George Farquhar's comedy The Beaux' Stratagem, Russell Beale will return to Hamlet, while Dame Judi, who appeared in Antony and Cleopatra in 1987, will re-enact the elegy to Antony, | Dame Maggie will reprise her role as Mrs Sullen in George Farquhar's comedy The Beaux' Stratagem, Russell Beale will return to Hamlet, while Dame Judi, who appeared in Antony and Cleopatra in 1987, will re-enact the elegy to Antony, |
| "I'm frightened, but I'm thrilled to be part of it," Dame Judi told the BBC. | "I'm frightened, but I'm thrilled to be part of it," Dame Judi told the BBC. |
| Sir Nicholas Hytner even hinted to the Evening Standard that blockbuster show The History Boys, which launched the career of James Corden, could even make a return for the gala. | Sir Nicholas Hytner even hinted to the Evening Standard that blockbuster show The History Boys, which launched the career of James Corden, could even make a return for the gala. |
| The event will be screened on the BBC, which has also commissioned two hour-long Arena specials on the history of the theatre. | The event will be screened on the BBC, which has also commissioned two hour-long Arena specials on the history of the theatre. |
| Dame Judi said the institution was still "essential" as it celebrated its golden anniversary. | Dame Judi said the institution was still "essential" as it celebrated its golden anniversary. |
| "The place is absolutely buzzing with people," she told BBC entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba. "There are exhibitions, there is music, there are three theatres going. It's a very alive place. | "The place is absolutely buzzing with people," she told BBC entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba. "There are exhibitions, there is music, there are three theatres going. It's a very alive place. |
| "We need that to stimulate our emotions. We need to see things that make us cry, laugh, think about something, be excited, be saddened, be angry." | "We need that to stimulate our emotions. We need to see things that make us cry, laugh, think about something, be excited, be saddened, be angry." |
| "We were so long without a National Theatre," she added, "and we've been very, very lucky." | "We were so long without a National Theatre," she added, "and we've been very, very lucky." |
| Sir Nicholas leaves the National Theatre in 2015, when he will be replaced by Rufus Norris, whose credits include The Amen Corner and Dr Dee: An English Opera. | Sir Nicholas leaves the National Theatre in 2015, when he will be replaced by Rufus Norris, whose credits include The Amen Corner and Dr Dee: An English Opera. |
| The role is widely regarded as the biggest job in British theatre. Norris, who was appointed last week, called it "a great honour". | The role is widely regarded as the biggest job in British theatre. Norris, who was appointed last week, called it "a great honour". |