Dame Judi Dench says she has ‘great hope’ for the future of theatre

Dame Judi Dench has said she has “great hope” for the future of theatre.

The 91-year-old actress helped launch a new outdoor installation on Friday to mark the the 50th anniversary of the National Theatre building, alongside actress Lesley Manville and the London mayor, Lord Sadiq Khan of Tooting.

The wooden installation, Stories Start Here: 50 Stories for 50 Years, was inspired by the amphitheatre seating of the Olivier Theatre.

Facing the National Theatre on Queen’s Walk, visitors can sit and listen to personal stories celebrating the building and the people connected to it.

Speaking about the future of theatre, Dame Judi told the Press Association: “When you speak to a lot of young people, I do have great hope.

“I’ve just met a little girl who is doing her show at school and is very, very excited about it.

“As long as that goes on and people see shows that they want to see, and see people and then they enjoy it, or maybe they don’t enjoy it, but at least it promotes a conversation, and that is exciting and wonderful.”

The veteran actress has performed at the National Theatre several times and said her memories include performing in productions of Entertaining Strangers, A Kind Of Alaska and Antony And Cleopatra with Sir Anthony Hopkins.

She added: “I’ve played all three theatres here, and I’ve got so many memories. I wouldn’t know where to start.

“I know all three stages very, very well and I just remember so vividly all those companies and the times we had here.”

Manville, known for Another Year, Phantom Thread and Mrs Harris Goes To Paris, said the venue feels like her “theatre home” and features as one of the stories in the installation.

She said: “I think we’re very privileged in this country to have theatres subsidised, so there is no pressure for commercial gain, and you can have the right to fail sometimes.

“So I hope that the future involves continued, serious, proper, full support from the Government and from the Arts Council.”

National Theatre executive director Kate Varah echoed her optimism for the future of British theatre but called for continued funding of infrastructure and services to ensure spaces like the National Theatre thrive.

She said: “There is no end to the creativity and talent of the artists that are coming through our doors.

“The trick and the joy for us is to figure out how to make that ambition possible.

“We need to fund our buildings. We need to fund the work. We need to open up to new audiences.”