Ex.5. Give the summary of the text. The Royal National Theatre One of the things that Britain is known for throughout the world is the quality of its drama and its actors, and the Royal National Theatre is the nation's flagship theatre.
The National presents an enormous variety of plays - from classic to brand new - from the whole of world drama, presents them to the very highest standards: and gives audiences a choice of productions at any one time.
The National's first performance - with Peter O'Toole as Hamlet -was given in 1963, under Laurence Olmer's Directorship. For its first 13 years,the Company worked at the Old Vie Theatre,while waiting for its new home to be completed. In 1976, under Peter Hall, the move took place and the building was opened by The Queen Since its inception, the National has presented nearly 500 plays, and several different productions can be seen in any one week. Richard Eyre was Director of the Royal National Theatre from 1988 until 1997, when he was succeeded by Trevor Nunn. The Royal National Theatre receives financial assistance from the Arts Council of Great Britain, though more than half its income is self-generated, coming from the box office and other sales, sponsorship and patronage.
The National's building is newly refurbished, thanks to a grant from the Lottery fund, and stands next to Waterloo Bridge on the South Bank of the Thames in London. It consists of three auditoriums - the large open-stage Olivier,the more conventional, proscenium-stage Lyttelton, and a small studio theatre, the Cottesloe - which seat nearly 2,500 people altogether. The National also has a Studio for research and development, with a central commitment to new plays.
Apart from its main productions, the National offers all kinds of other events and services: short early-evening Platform performances; work/or children and education work. There are free exhibitions in the foyers: live music before performances; outdoor events; backstage tours: a car park; and one of the world's best-stocked theatre bookshops.
Just across the river from Covent Garden, and close to the concert halls of the Royal Festival Hall, the National Film Theatre and the Hayward Gallery. The National is open to the public all day, six days a week, fifty-two weeks a year, and has spacious foyers and terraces overlooking the river. Visitors have a wide choice of eating places: the restaurant (Mezzanine), the Terrace Cafe, the Espresso bar, and a number of buffets and bars.
The 'music hall' or variety theatre has almost died out, as a result of the popularity of television. Successful music halls now exist only at seaside holiday towns. The centre of the commercial theatre in London is Shaftsbury Avenueand the streets around it; but there is also much experimental theatre, often in theatre clubs, and even in pubs. The best-known London concert halls are the Royal Albert Hall and the Festival Hall. Every evening during late summer the Royal Albert Hall has Promenade Concerts ('proms') so-called because seats are taken out of the main pan of the hall and many people can stand, walk, and hear the concert cheaply.