About us
Welcome to the National Theatre Bookshop. Take a scroll through this page to discover more.
Introducing the National Theatre Bookshop
We are the premier theatre bookshop in the UK situated in the heart of the National Theatre on the South Bank in London. On our shelves you'll find the newest playtexts, monologues and theatre practitioner books sourced by our knowledgeable and passionate team.
What's more, by choosing to shop with us you are helping to continue the vital, artistic work of the National Theatre.
Meet the team
Our dedicated team, with their knowledge and passion for theatre, are at the heart of everything we do. Whether in store or online, they allow us to deliver an unforgettable shopping experience, just for you. Many of our team work in the profession, whether as actors, directors or producers. Let our creativity help you on your theatrical journey.
Education discount
Are you a teacher or do you work in education? We offer special discounts for educational orders over £100. Contact us via bookshop@nationaltheatre.org.uk to find out more. *
* You will need proof of working in education for us to validate the discount. We recommend emailing us from your work email address.
National Theatre Archive
The National Theatre’s Archive holds all the organisation’s creative, technical and business records. It covers the movement to found the theatre and documents every production from opening night in 1963 right up to the present day.
From props to prompt scripts, photographs to recordings – the Archive holds a treasure trove of material relating to theatre and performance. If that sounds like heaven to you, the Archive is free and open to everyone by appointment.
Print-on-demand prints
The bookshop has collaborated with the Archive team to bring you a curated edit of custom prints taken from original National Theatre artworks.
Shop here
Black Plays Archive
The Black Plays Archive is an online catalogue of the first professional theatre production in the UK of plays written by African, Caribbean and Black British playwrights.
Within the Black Plays Archive, users can search for productions, listen to audio extracts of plays, watch interviews with playwrights and browse our resources for teachers.
The Black Plays Archive logs productions from all of the UK, not just plays from the National Theatre. With the Black Plays Archive you can find information about a production, from where it had its premiere to the original cast and production team, with the online database spanning 1930 to today.
* Image: Winsome Pinnock during Leave Taking rehearsals, 1995
Photo: © Richard H Smith
Playtexts from the Black Plays Archive
Discover a selection of playtexts from the Black Plays Archive.
Find your next read here
National Theatre Tours
With workshops for sets, props and costumes on site, visitors can explore how stories are brought to life by skilled experts of today and tomorrow in the nation's most cutting-edge theatre factory. There is always something different to see at the National Theatre.
Book a tour today!
Public tours
Public guided theatre tours take place at 11.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday and at 11.30am and noon on Saturday and last for an hour and 15 minutes. Each guided tour is a unique experience and varies according to what is available on the day. Led by an expert guide, discover how world-class productions are made.
Architecture tours
Architecture tours of the National Theatre bring the history of the iconic South Bank building to life. The tour is ideal for anyone with an interest in design, London history, 20th-century architecture and Brutalist buildings and is available as a private group tour of up to 20 people.
Exclusive tours
You can also book exclusive tours for up to four people. The perfect gift for birthdays, anniversaries, theatre-lovers or anyone looking for a unique experience.
Family tours
Family tours are available at 11am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturday, during London school holidays. Perfect for seven to 11-year-olds and lasting an hour, they include the chance to play with props and costumes used in previous productions.
Don't forget...
All tour bookers can show their tour ticket at our bookshop on the day of the tour and receive a 10% discount off their in store purchases.
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