Judi Dench and Sadiq Khan Unveil National Theatre's 50th-Anniversary Installation

Judi Dench, Lesley Manville and Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, unveiled a public installation on Friday 30 October 2026 to mark 50 years of the National Theatre's South Bank building. The launch was joined by the theatre's director, Indhu Rubasingham.

The installation is called '50 Stories for 50 Years'. It stands on the Queen's Walk, the riverside path outside the theatre, and it is free to see. It mixes physical, digital and audio elements, and carries personal accounts from National Theatre staff, supporters and audiences.

The piece was designed and fabricated by La Cuarta Piel. Its shape takes its cue from the amphitheatre seating of the Olivier Theatre, one of the building's three stages. Visitors who cannot get to the South Bank can still reach the anniversary stories remotely. They are available through the theatre's free digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, an app that hosts museum and venue tours.

Dench, who is 91, spoke at the launch. The Independent reported that she said she has "great hope" for the future of theatre. Kate Varah, the National Theatre's executive director, and Damon Buffini, the chair of its board, also attended the unveiling.

The day also brought news of a new job. The theatre has created an engineering apprenticeship named after Denys Lasdun, the architect of the building. Two apprentices, Ilan Bankes and Joe Hutchings, were picked from more than 700 applicants. They attended the event.

An apprenticeship is a paid job that combines work with formal training. These two will learn practical engineering skills, and their work will help keep the building running. The theatre's own press release described the photocall as the moment the installation was unveiled, with the three guests and the apprentices in shot.

The installation is open to the public on the Queen's Walk, and the digital stories can be read or heard from anywhere.