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The Queen visits the National Theatre as it turns 50 The Queen meets War Horse star as National Theatre turns 50
(35 minutes later)
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have visited the National Theatre, as the institution celebrates its 50th birthday.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. During the tour, the Queen met one of the puppet horses from the NT's acclaimed production of War Horse.
Their visit marked the anniversary of the first performance at the theatre The Queen has seen the show, based on the Michael Morpurgo novel, which tells the story of Joey, a horse who serves in World War I.
Peter O'Toole opened the venue on 22 October 1963, playing Hamlet under the eye of founder Sir Laurence Olivier. Tuesday is 50 years to the day since the first National Theatre production.
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. Peter O'Toole played Hamlet on 22 October 1963 at the Old Vic theatre, under the eye of National Theatre founder Sir Laurence Olivier.
The NT moved to its current home on the South Bank in 1976.
More than 800 productions have taken place over the 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.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. The royal visitors were given a backstage tour by outgoing director Sir Nicholas Hytner.
The royal visitors also visited the props workshop and unveil a plaque to commemorate the theatre's 50th anniversary. Tuesday's encounter with Joey wasn't the first time the Queen had met the mechanical horse.
During the Diamond Jubilee River Thames pageant last summer, the Queen appeared to enjoy watching the animal running across the roof of the National Theatre, which first staged the play, as the royal barge sailed past.
As her tour of the theatre company ended, she told the puppet horse: "It's lovely to see you again."
Puppeteer Gareth Aled said after meeting the Queen: "She's familiar with horses and with Joey, it's a very lovely privilege to have that meeting, she knows horses probably better than we do."
Joey walked up to the Queen and followed her as she walked to her waiting state limousine before rearing up on his hind legs as the car departed.
Mr Aled added: "It's all about striving for realistic horse movement, every horse movement should feel life-like."
Dame Judi 'thrilled'Dame Judi 'thrilled'
Originally based at the Old Vic, the NT moved to the South Bank in 1976, where it remains. The National Theatre's 50th year is being marked by a series of events, including a star-studded gala on 2 November.
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.
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".