The National Theatre – Donor board design
The National Theatre (NT) is one of the UK’s most prominent arts institutions – home to hundreds of world-class productions and a line of prestigious Artistic Directors. As a Registered Charity, the NT depends on public donations. During the pandemic, each day of closure eliminated vital income. So the NT launched a fundraising campaign: National Theatre Together. The response to National Theatre Together was phenomenal, raising £40 million in donations for the NT’s collaborative work with theatre-makers and communities for young people and audiences everywhere. Thanks to the generosity of donors, and a government loan, the national and cultural institution was preserved. In recognition of key donors, the NT commissioned a new installation.
The Challenge
To recognise the NT’s high-level donors – its ‘Luminaries’ – the installation must do three things: celebrate the 33 donors who had given generously; inspire future donations; and pay respect to the building’s historic Grade II* listed architecture.
It also had to represent the individual donors’ contributions equally, and seamlessly integrate with the modernist interior. Any intervention must have minimal impact on the listed board-marked concrete. On top of that, the installation needed to be visible from Waterloo Bridge to show life inside the building.
These physical constraints became a catalyst for creative thinking around possible solutions. We started by gaining an understanding of the NT’s aspirations and turning these into creative possibilities. Our design team also drew on their experience from previous projects.
Project Vision
From the outset, it was agreed that the installation could deviate from the traditional, wall-mounted donor board format. Our ‘Luminaire’ concept was a lighting installation that took the design off the wall. This drew on Lasdun’s analogy of the interior spaces being dimly lit caves, but also took a pragmatic approach of being sensitive to the building fabric.
We would bring our ‘Luminaire’ concept into a reality by crafting it from hand-finished aluminium to match the NT’s existing architectural palette, evoking ‘candle flames’ with integrated illumination. A circular design would hang from the ceiling, reflecting the form of the Olivier Theatre, and its connotations of people coming together. It would also deliver a sense of equality to the donors. There would also be no need to break the fabric of the walls.
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Design + Execution
Our close working relationship and collaboration throughout the project with the NT allowed us to achieve their aspirations and project objectives and create a unique public installation.
The installation is designed with longevity in mind, remaining a permanent fixture within the listed interior, and standing as a testament to the significant support pledged by the donors. The design is experiential, its craftsmanship, presence and details can be appreciated from a distance. The scale enables people to step inside and to create an experience whilst reading the names of each donor. The final installation was fabricated and finished by hand locally to the Theatre.
Crafted with flexibility in mind, our design serves a dual purpose, mirroring the structure of the Olivier Theatre and creating an immersive space. The final installation resembles a work of art that demands to be looked at and responded to. It has minimal impact on the listed board-marked concrete and seamlessly integrates with the historic, listed architecture. The donor board design stands out prominently inside and outside the building, visible from Waterloo Bridge, acting as a beacon-like focal point.
In 2023, donors were treated to a stunning dinner and entertainment beneath the unveiling of the installation in the foyer space. NT Director and CEO, Rufus Norris, who unveiled it, described the finished product as a “work of art”. This exemplifies how this design has made the space a focal point in the building.
Our design work has not only met but exceeded NT’s aspirations and objectives, aligning seamlessly with its vision for donor recognition.
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Project Details
Design Team
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Photo Credits
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Open Date
January 2023