<P> Named after the theatre 's first artistic director , Laurence Olivier , this is the main auditorium , modelled on the ancient Greek theatre at Epidaurus ; it has an open stage and a fan - shaped audience seating area for 1100 people . A ' drum revolve ' ( a five - storey revolving stage section ) extends eight metres beneath the stage and is operated by a single staff member . The drum has two rim revolves and two platforms , each of which can carry ten tonnes , facilitating dramatic and fluid scenery changes . Its design ensures that the audience 's view is not blocked from any seat , and that the audience is fully visible to actors from the stage 's centre . Designed in the 1970s and a prototype of current technology , the drum revolve and a multiple ' sky hook ' flying system were initially very controversial and required ten years to commission , but seem to have fulfilled the objective of functionality with high productivity . </P>
<P> Named after the theatre 's first artistic director , Laurence Olivier , this is the main auditorium , modelled on the ancient Greek theatre at Epidaurus ; it has an open stage and a fan - shaped audience seating area for 1100 people . A ' drum revolve ' ( a five - storey revolving stage section ) extends eight metres beneath the stage and is operated by a single staff member . The drum has two rim revolves and two platforms , each of which can carry ten tonnes , facilitating dramatic and fluid scenery changes . Its design ensures that the audience 's view is not blocked from any seat , and that the audience is fully visible to actors from the stage 's centre . Designed in the 1970s and a prototype of current technology , the drum revolve and a multiple ' sky hook ' flying system were initially very controversial and required ten years to commission , but seem to have fulfilled the objective of functionality with high productivity . </P>
a famous feature of the national theatre 's olivier stage is its
a famous feature of the national theatre 's olivier stage is its
drum revolve
drum revolve