The Olivier Theatre is to be transformed for live performances in the round for socially distanced audiences from October.

The Olivier theatre is to be significantly remodelled in order to stage a season of performances in-the-round, which will achieve an audience capacity of almost 500 while maintaining social distancing for audiences.

The National Theatre reopens on the 21 October for the first time since closing in March with Death Of England: Delroy, a new play by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams performed by Giles Terera. The second production sees pantomime comes to the Olivier Theatre with an in-the-round season of Dick Whittington originally commissioned by the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith. Following UK Government guidelines, social distancing measures have been put in place for those attending performances at the NT. These include staggered arrival times, paperless tickets, pre-ordered drinks, enhanced cleaning, and sanitisation stations throughout the theatre. Tickets are available to be purchased as single tickets, as pairs or in threes or fours for audiences to attend with others from their social bubbles. Face coverings will be required at all times, aside from when audience members are eating or drinking. Full information on the safety measures for audiences can be found here.