简介：TheNationalTheatreis50inOctober2013andhasgiventheBBCunprecedentedaccesstomaketwoArenadocumentariesforBBCFour. Thefilmsaskwhyittookuntil1963tocreateaNationalTheatre,andDameJoanPlowrighttalksfranklytodirectorAdamLowabouttheappointmentofherhusbandLaurenceOlivier,thegreatestactorofhisgeneration,astheNational'sfirstartisticdirector.ThefilmsuncoverthelifeoftheTheatre'searlygoldenperiodattheOldVic,theNational'sfirsthome,underthetoweringpresenceofOlivier;thecommissioningandconstructionofthecontroversialandnowiconicDenysLasdunbuildingontheSouthBank;andtheturbulentsuccessionofPeterHallattheendofOlivier'sreign. Throughthepersonalanecdotesofthosewhowrote,directedandperformedontheNational'smanystagesthefilmsrevealthestoriesbehindthegreatesthitproductions,fromOlivier'sOthellotoWarHorse,underartisticdirectorsPeterHall,RichardEyre,TrevorNunnanduptoandincludingthelatestgreatsuccessesunderNicholasHytner.OthercontributorsincludeMaggieSmith,DerekJacobi,AlanBennett,JudiDench,FrancisdelaTour,DavidHare,AlanAyckbournandAdrianLester.…