Until reccently the history of the english theatre has been

build around actors rather then companies. It has been hard to

find any London theatre that even had a consistent policy. There

are no permanent staff in British theatres. Apply is rehearsed

for a few weeks by a company of actors working together mostly

for the first time and it is allowed to run as long as it draws

the odious and pays it's way.

Another peculiarity of the theatres in Great Britain is an

follows: there are two kinds of seats, which can be booked an

advanced (bookable), and unbookable once have no numbers and the

spectators occupy them on the principal: first come - first

served. And ancient times plays were acted inside churches and

later on the market places.

The first theatre in England "The Blackfries" build in 1576,

and "The Globe" build in 1599, which is closely connected with

William Shakespeare. Speaking about our times we should first of

all mention "The English National theatre","The Royal Shakespeare

company" and "Covent Garden".

"Covent Garden" used to be a fashionable promenade - it was,

before then, a convent garden - but when it became overrun with

flower-sellers, orange-vendors and vegetable-growers, the people

moved to more exclusive surroundings farther west, such as "St.

Jame's Square".

The first "Covent Garden theatre" was build in 1732. It was

burnt down in 1808 and rebuild exactly a year after. It opened in

September 1809, with Shakespeare's "Macbeth". Since the middle of

the last century "Covent Garden" became exclusively devoted to

opera.

Now "Covent Garden" in busier than ever, it is one of the

few well-known opera houses open for 11 months of the year and it

employs over 600 people both of the Opera company and the Royal

Ballet.

THE NATIONAL THEATRE

It took over the hundred years to establish a national

theatre company. It's first director from 1962 was Lawrence

Olivier. This is the first state theatre Britain has ever had. A

special building for it was opened in 1976. It has three theatres

in one: "The Oliver theatre", the biggest is for the main

classical repertoire; "The Lyttilton", a bit smaller is for new

writing and for visiting foreigh countries and "The Cottesloe

theatre", the smallest is used for experimental writing and

productions. "The Royal Shakespeare company" are devided between

the country and the capital and it's produces plays mainly by

Shakespeare and his contempraries when it performs is "Stratford

-on-Avon", and modern plays in it's two auditoria in the Cities,

Barbican centre.