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Dorfman Theatre

Dorfman Theatre

National Theatre, Upper Ground, Lambeth, South Bank,LondonSE1 9PX
Nearest Tube
Waterloo
Nearest Train
Waterloo, Waterloo East

Dorfman Theatre, London

Formerly known as the Cottlesloe Theatre, The Dorfman has recently been refurbished to offer a larger seating capacity, fewer restricted views, larger foyer and lobby spaces, and more comfortable seating.


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The Dorfman Theatre is shaped like a rectangular and presents itself as the most flexible theatre of the three National Theatre auditoriums. Featuring a seating capacity of up to 450 people, the auditorium's new seating system located in the pit is fully flexible and can be either lowered or raised in a matter of minutes in order to create a more shallow or steeper rake. The seats can also be completely folded away in order to create a completely flat surface.

 Three sides of the room have two different levels: the Gallery and Circle, which offer a view of the pit down below. Performances and shows can be staged either in the conventional format, in a lengthways format known as "traverse" (across the space), or in what's known as "in the round." Other than the Circle or Gallery, which takes after the classic inn-yard style prevalent during Shakespeare's time, everything can be changed or altered to accommodate the demands of a particular show.