Simon Russell Beale talks about the benefits of working as part of a company. ActingNT

Simon Russell Beale, Lesley Manville and Roger Allam talk about acting on the Olivier stage, an epic theatre. ActingNT

Simon Russell Beale and Roger Allam talk about acting in the Cottesloe, a small, verstile theatre. ActingNT

Simon Russell Beale talks about why actors rehearse for the length of time that they do and what happens during that process. ActingNT

Simon Russell Beale, Lesley manville and Roger Allam talk about acting on the Lyttelton stage, a procenium arch theatre. ActingNT

Director Nicholas Hytner and actor Lesley Manville talk about the job of the stage actor. How does a stage actor differ from a film actor? ActingNT

The dressing rooms at the National are arranged over four floors, set around a courtyard in the centre of the building. This helps create a real sense of community, while they can still have their own privacy to prepare to go on stage. ActingNT