National Theatre Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Marlowe Theatre

THE MARLOWE Theatre helped the National Theatre celebrate its 50th birthday yesterday (Tuesday).

Alan Bennett's People opened at the Canterbury venue last night, the same day as the National marked its landmark anniversary.

Stars of the production Siân Phillips, Selina Cadell, and Brigit Forsyth, along with Canterbury City Council Leader John Gilbey, Marlowe Theatre Director Mark Everett, and National Theatre Executive Director Nick Starr, are pictured (left to right) at the post-show reception.

Starr, who lives in Faversham, said: "Today is a significant moment in the National Theatre's history as we celebrate our 50th anniversary of our very first performance at the Old Vic in 1963. And some 800 productions later, we are performing tonight in 10 theatres simultaneously - at our home on London's South Bank, in the West End, on tour in the UK, in Germany and in America - as well as broadcasting to 600 cinemas around the globe. It's momentous. And for Canterbury to be hosting the National on this auspicious day gives me great pleasure, not just because it confirms our determination to be as national as possible with some of our finest work, but also because it's my own local theatre which I delight in supporting."

Audience members at all the National's worldwide productions last night, including Canterbury, were given a commemorative bookmark. At The Marlowe Theatre, Cadell gave a moving speech at the end of the production, telling everyone the best birthday gift they could give the National would be to take someone to the theatre.

People runs at The Marlowe Theatre until Saturday.