Olivier Theatre, National Theatre

The Olivier Theatre is the biggest of the three theatres inside the National Theatre on the South Bank, where The Story is playing until 24 October 2026, and it is the fan-shaped one. There is no arch and no curtain between you and the stage, and the seats step up around it in two tiers holding around 1,100 people. The other two are the Lyttelton and the Dorfman.

The short version: the middle of Stalls rows G and H is the best seat in the building, with E and F just behind it. For the money, take a Circle seat as close to a centre aisle as you can get, which costs less than the middle of the same row and sees nearly as well. The seats to steer around are the very ends of the Stalls rows, numbers 1, 2, 58 and 59, wherever they come up.

Nothing overhangs either level here. The Circle doesn't overhang the back of the Stalls.

Below: the seating plan, what the Stalls and the Circle are like row by row, how access works to each of them, and more about the theatre.

Quick facts

  • Address: National Theatre, Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PX
  • Nearest station: Waterloo, 5 to 7 minutes on foot
  • Levels: Stalls and Circle, and no Boxes
  • Capacity: around 1,100
  • Stage: open, with no proscenium arch
  • Arrive 30 minutes before the performance, no later
  • Tickets: all-in pricing, the price you see is what you pay

Now playing in the Olivier

The Story runs until 24 October 2026. Tracey Scott Wilson's play, directed by Clint Dyer, with Letitia Wright, Ashley Thomas and Lorraine Toussaint. It runs about 2 hours 30 minutes including the interval, and latecomers may not be admitted at all, so the 30 minutes matters here more than usual.

Also booking

  • The Jungle Book, 13 November 2026 to 6 February 2027. Suitable for ages 7 and over.
  • Suddenly Last Summer, 19 February to 24 April 2027. Michael Grandage directs Emma Corrin and Harriet Walter in the Tennessee Williams.
  • West Side Story is announced for winter 2027, with no dates yet.

How tickets work at the Olivier

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

There are no day seats here. Nothing is held back for release on the morning, so there is no queue to join and no reason to be outside early.

Most seats cost from around £50 to around £100, and premium seats start from around £120, which buys the middle of Stalls rows H and J or the centre of Circle row A. Prices move with the production, with demand and with the day of the week, so the same seat costs more on a Saturday than it does midweek.

Getting to the Olivier

Waterloo is the station to use, 5 to 7 minutes away on foot. The Waterloo Bridge / South Bank bus stops are about two minutes from the doors, served by the 139 and the 176 over the bridge and nine other daytime routes, including the 1, 59, 68 and 188. Our National Theatre guide has the full run of tube stations, bus routes, the car park and where to eat and drink before a performance, because all of that belongs to the building rather than to any one of its three theatres.

Book Olivier Theatre tickets

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

Olivier Theatre FAQs

Is the Olivier Theatre inside the National Theatre?

Yes. The National Theatre is one building on the South Bank with three separate theatres inside it, and the Olivier is the largest of them. A ticket for the Olivier gets you into the same building as a ticket for the Lyttelton or the Dorfman, through the same doors, and the difference is which auditorium you go to once you are in.

What are the three theatres at the National Theatre?

The Olivier, the Lyttelton and the Dorfman. The Olivier holds around 1,100 and has an open stage with no proscenium arch. The Lyttelton holds around 890 and is the conventional one, with the stage behind a proscenium. The Dorfman is the small flexible one, holding up to 450 depending on how it has been laid out for the production.

How many people does the Olivier Theatre seat?

Around 1,100, over two levels. A little over half of them are in the Stalls and the rest are in the Circle above. The exact number moves a bit between productions, because the front rows are sometimes taken out and the auditorium is reconfigured to some degree for each show.

Is there a dress code at the Olivier Theatre?

There isn't one, so wear whatever you are comfortable in. Jeans and trainers are fine. The one thing worth thinking about is a layer, because some people find this auditorium cool.

What time should I arrive at the Olivier Theatre?

Arrive 30 minutes before the performance, no later. It's a big building with more than one entrance, and a bit of a maze the first few times. For The Story, latecomers may not be admitted at all.

How long do shows in the Olivier run for?

It depends on the production. The Story runs about 2 hours 30 minutes including the interval. Running times for The Jungle Book and Suddenly Last Summer are not confirmed yet and tend to be settled close to opening, so check with us nearer the date if you have a train to catch.

Can I bring children to the Olivier Theatre?

Children under four cannot come into any of the three auditoriums, except at selected family shows, though they are welcome in the foyers. Anyone aged 12 or under has to be with an adult. The Jungle Book, from November, is the one aimed at younger audiences and is suitable from age 7.

Where do I go in for the Olivier?

Through the National Theatre's main entrance on the river side of the building, off Theatre Square. Once inside, the Stalls are on level 2 and the Circle is on level 3, and four lifts from the ground-floor foyer serve both. Staff on the night will point you at the right one.