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.