BRITISH THEATRES
Until reccently the history of the english theatre has been
build around actors rather then companies. It has been hard to
find any London theatre that even had a consistent policy. There
are no permanent staff in British theatres. Apply is rehearsed
for a few weeks by a company of actors working together mostly
for the first time and it is allowed to run as long as it draws
the odious and pays it's way.
Another peculiarity of the theatres in Great Britain is an
follows: there are two kinds of seats, which can be booked an
advanced (bookable), and unbookable once have no numbers and the
spectators occupy them on the principal: first come - first
served. And ancient times plays were acted inside churches and
later on the market places.
The first theatre in England "The Blackfries" build in 1576,
and "The Globe" build in 1599, which is closely connected with
William Shakespeare. Speaking about our times we should first of
all mention "The English National theatre","The Royal Shakespeare
company" and "Covent Garden".
"Covent Garden" used to be a fashionable promenade - it was,
before then, a convent garden - but when it became overrun with
flower-sellers, orange-vendors and vegetable-growers, the people
moved to more exclusive surroundings farther west, such as "St.
Jame's Square".
The first "Covent Garden theatre" was build in 1732. It was
burnt down in 1808 and rebuild exactly a year after. It opened in
September 1809, with Shakespeare's "Macbeth". Since the middle of
the last century "Covent Garden" became exclusively devoted to
opera.
Now "Covent Garden" in busier than ever, it is one of the
few well-known opera houses open for 11 months of the year and it
employs over 600 people both of the Opera company and the Royal
Ballet.
THE NATIONAL THEATRE
It took over the hundred years to establish a national
theatre company. It's first director from 1962 was Lawrence
Olivier. This is the first state theatre Britain has ever had. A
special building for it was opened in 1976. It has three theatres
in one: "The Oliver theatre", the biggest is for the main
classical repertoire; "The Lyttilton", a bit smaller is for new
writing and for visiting foreigh countries and "The Cottesloe
theatre", the smallest is used for experimental writing and
productions. "The Royal Shakespeare company" are devided between
the country and the capital and it's produces plays mainly by
Shakespeare and his contempraries when it performs is "Stratford
-on-Avon", and modern plays in it's two auditoria in the Cities,
Barbican centre.