What makes a national theatre?

Long ReadsOct 30, 2025

Clockwise from top left: the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, during the city’s annual festival of lights; the Royal Theater in The Hague, Netherlands; the National Theater Hall in Taipei, Taiwan; the National Theatre in Pristina, Kosovo. Photo: Shutt

Clockwise from top left: the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, during the city’s annual festival of lights; the Royal Theater in The Hague, Netherlands; the National Theater Hall in Taipei, Taiwan; the National Theatre in Pristina, Kosovo. Photo: Shutt

National theatres play a crucial role in a country’s cultural landscape. The artistic leaders of six institutions talk to Natasha Tripney about their priorities and the challenges they face

THIS IS NOT A PAYWALL

Serious about theatre?
Join over 100,000 theatremakers who rely on The Stage for trusted news, reviews, and insight.

🔓 Sign in below or create a free account to read 5 free articles.

Want to support independent theatre journalism? Subscribe from just £7.99 and unlock:

🗞️ Unlimited access to award-winning theatre journalism

⭐ 1000+ reviews from across the UK

📧 Breaking news and daily newsletters

💡Insight and opinion from writers including Lyn Gardner & Amanda Parker

🎟️Discounts and early access to The Stage’s events

More on this topic

Chess makes the wrong move with Broadway revival

Chess makes the wrong move with Broadway revival

Opinion by Richard Jordan

BBC to broadcast recordings of Broadway dancers who inspired A Chorus Line

BBC to broadcast recordings of Broadway dancers who inspired A Chorus Line

News by Katie Chambers

Appetite for new plays and industry collaboration - this week in Your Views

Appetite for new plays and industry collaboration - this week in Your Views

Your views by The Stage

Creatives more likely to export work abroad than rest of economy – report

Creatives more likely to export work abroad than rest of economy – report

News by Katie Chambers

Recommended for you

Chess makes the wrong move with Broadway revival

Chess makes the wrong move with Broadway revival

Opinion by Richard Jordan

BBC to broadcast recordings of Broadway dancers who inspired A Chorus Line

BBC to broadcast recordings of Broadway dancers who inspired A Chorus Line

News by Katie Chambers

Appetite for new plays and industry collaboration - this week in Your Views

Appetite for new plays and industry collaboration - this week in Your Views

Your views by The Stage

Creatives more likely to export work abroad than rest of economy – report

Creatives more likely to export work abroad than rest of economy – report

News by Katie Chambers

Opinion

Theatre’s power lies in how it lands, not what it means

Theatre’s power lies in how it lands, not what it means

Chess makes the wrong move with Broadway revival

Chess makes the wrong move with Broadway revival

by Richard Jordan

Front-of-house staff deserve their share of the spotlight

Front-of-house staff deserve their share of the spotlight

by Alistair Smith

OCD is much more complex than many recent plays would suggest

OCD is much more complex than many recent plays would suggest

by Liam O’Dell

Most Read

Across The Stage this week

Billy Elliot star wins compensation for ‘career-ending’ injury by police officer

Into the Woods review

David Threlfall pulls out entirely from Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo

The BFG review

Barbican to close for a year as part of multimillion-pound redevelopment

The Playboy of the Western World review

Chess makes the wrong move with Broadway revival

WhatsOnStage Awards 2026: nominations in full

Actors Centre to be revived with backing from Harriet Walter and Simon Callow

Beauty and the Beast review

Your subscription helps ensure our journalism can continue

Invest in The Stage today with a subscription starting at just £7.99

Newspaper

Opinion & Advice

More

Get Into Theatre

Info

Advertising Enquiries

Awards

The Stage Awards

The Stage Debut Awards

Legal

Terms and conditions

Advertising terms and conditions

Contributor agreement

Digital

Digital Editions

Subscribe

Subscribe

Start a subscription today from just £7.99 Subscribe

© Copyright The Stage Media Company Limited 2025