The Royal National Theatre
Notable UK charityAlso known as: The National, The National Theatre
The National Theatre is central to the creative life of the UK. In its three theatres on the South Bank in London it presents new plays and classics from the world repertoire. It extends its reach through live broadcasts into cinema, UK and International tours and deepens audience engagement through its education programme. It looks after the wider health of theatre through R&D at the NT Studio.
Activities & Mission
The National Theatre is central to the creative life of the UK. In its three theatres on the South Bank in London it presents new plays and classics from the world repertoire. It extends its reach through live broadcasts into cinema, UK and International tours and deepens audience engagement through its education programme. It looks after the wider health of theatre through R&D at the NT Studio.
Areas of Operation
Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.
Show all 6 areas of operation Hide areas of operation
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 30% of UK Arts charities with income over £10M (sample: 125). How is this calculated?
Higher than 20% of UK Arts charities with income over £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 56% of UK Arts charities with income over £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?
Latest Financial Breakdown
Income Sources
Expenditure Categories
Financial Trend
Annual Returns
As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | £128,700,000 | £121,600,000 | £99,700,000 | £88,900,000 | £88,900,000 | 931 / 14 |
| 2024 | £121,400,000 | £125,400,000 | £106,400,000 | £81,800,000 | £81,800,000 | 840 / 20 |
| 2023 | £89,000,000 | £90,900,000 | £74,600,000 | £85,800,000 | £85,800,000 | 778 / 25 |
| 2022 | £80,800,000 | £80,100,000 | £51,900,000 | £87,700,000 | £87,700,000 | 669 / 0 |
| 2021 | £56,300,000 | £51,600,000 | £46,700,000 | £87,000,000 | £37,500,000 | 759 / 0 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about The Royal National Theatre
What does The Royal National Theatre do?
The National Theatre is central to the creative life of the UK. In its three theatres on the South Bank in London it presents new plays and classics from the world repertoire. It extends its reach through live broadcasts into cinema, UK and International tours and deepens audience engagement through its education programme. It looks after the wider health of theatre through R&D at the NT Studio.
How much income did The Royal National Theatre report in 2025?
The Royal National Theatre reported total income of £128.70m and reported expenditure of £121.60m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is The Royal National Theatre?
The Royal National Theatre has a program ratio of 77.5%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 30% of UK Arts charities with income over £10M (sample of 125 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was The Royal National Theatre registered as a charity?
The Royal National Theatre was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 17 April 1963 as charity number 224223. It has been registered for 63 years.
Who runs The Royal National Theatre?
The Royal National Theatre is governed by a board of 14 trustees. The chair of trustees is SIR DAMON MARCUS BUFFINI. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does The Royal National Theatre operate?
The Royal National Theatre operates across 6 areas, including China, Germany, Netherlands and 3 others. The full list is shown on its profile.
Is The Royal National Theatre a registered charity?
Yes — The Royal National Theatre is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 224223.
Details
UPPER GROUND
LONDON
SE1 9PX
Registry Information
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Major UK charities in the same primary sector, drawn from the curated priority cohort.
Trustees
Also governs 2 other charities
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 1 other charity
Sectors & Classifications
Also Known As
- The National
- The National Theatre
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated