Dorfman Theatre, London

The Dorfman is the National Theatre's studio theatre, on the South Bank, and the smallest of its three: up to 450 people, depending on how it's laid out. If you were looking for the Cottesloe, this is it: same theatre, new name since 2014.

The layout changes from show to show, so choose from the plan for the production you're booking.

For a show played end-on, with the stage at one end, the seats to want are the middle of the Pit, rows B to D, and row D sees very nearly what the premium rows see for a band less. Upstairs, take row P in the Circle ahead of row N: higher, more comfortable and usually cheaper. The cheap seats are the side blocks of the Gallery, which are fair value as long as you stay away from the far end of a side run.

Below: the seating plan and what each level sees, finding the Dorfman's own entrance, round the side of the building, access, and more about the theatre.

Quick facts

  • Address: Dorfman Theatre, National Theatre, Upper Ground, London SE1 9PX
  • Entrance: the east side of the building, on Stage Door Avenue, not the main river doors
  • Nearest station: Waterloo, about 6 minutes on foot
  • Levels: Pit, Circle and Gallery
  • Capacity: up to 450, depending on how it is laid out
  • Also known as: the Cottesloe, which is what it was called until 2014
  • Doors: the Dorfman foyer, bar and Box Office open an hour before. Arrive 30 minutes before, no later
  • Tickets: all-in pricing, the price you see is what you pay

What's on at the Dorfman Theatre

Some Woman runs from 7 October to 21 November 2026, a new play by Helen Edmundson with Anne-Marie Duff, directed by Blanche McIntyre.

Then:

  • The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, 2 December 2026 to 23 January 2027. Jim Cartwright's play, directed by Robert Hastie, with Francesca Mills, Jill Halfpenny and Paul Chuckle
  • Samira, 4 February to 13 March 2027. A new play by Carmen Nasr with May Calamawy, Joshua McGuire and Sirine Saba

How tickets work at the Dorfman Theatre

Our pricing is all-in, so the price you see is what you pay. Call us on 020 7193 9050 if you would rather talk it through, and we'll tell you what's left on your date and which of it is the better seat for the money.

Most seats cost from around £45 to around £80. There are four prices here rather than the five the bigger auditoriums use, and the bottom one sits well below the rest, at around £20 midweek and £25 at the weekend. So if price is what decides it, the cheapest seats here are a better deal than they look.

There are no day seats at the National. Nothing is held back for release on the morning, so there's no queue to join.

Book Dorfman Theatre tickets

All-in pricing, the price you see is what you pay.

Dorfman Theatre FAQs

What was the Dorfman Theatre called before?

The Cottesloe. It opened under that name in 1977 and was renamed when it reopened after rebuilding in 2014, following a £10m gift from Lloyd Dorfman. Same theatre, same corner of the same building. Some of the National's best-known work started in it: the UK premiere of Angels in America in 1992 and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in 2012 were both Cottesloe productions.

Is the Cottesloe a space inside the National Theatre?

It's this theatre. The Cottesloe is the old name of the Dorfman, one of the National's three auditoriums, and it changed in 2014. It isn't a separate studio, bar or hall somewhere in the building.

How many people does the Dorfman Theatre hold?

Up to 450, depending on how it's laid out, which makes it the smallest of the three. There isn't one true number: the Pit seating rises, lowers or folds away into the floor, so a show in the round and a show played end-on sell different numbers of seats in the same space.

What are the three theatres in the National Theatre?

The Olivier Theatre, the Lyttelton Theatre and the Dorfman, all under one roof on the South Bank: the big open-staged one, the traditional one with a proscenium arch, and the smallest one that changes shape. Our National Theatre guide covers the building itself.

How long is the show at the Dorfman Theatre?

It depends on the production, and each show's page carries its running time once the National publishes it. If you have a train to catch, ring us on 020 7193 9050 nearer your date and we'll find out for you.

Can I pay with cash at the Dorfman Theatre?

No. The whole building is cashless, at the Box Office and at the bar, so bring a card.

What happens if I'm late for a performance at the Dorfman Theatre?

It depends on the production, and some here don't let latecomers in at all rather than holding them until a break. The Dorfman also has its own entrance round the side of the building, which catches out people who head for the main doors. Be there 30 minutes before.