The National Theatre has developed a reputation for staging innovative and groundbreaking productions at its London base. Pioneering productions such as War Horse, Coram Boy and Waves have put the National at the cutting-edge of theatre.
Sponsor of Innovation since 2005, Accenture has supported a series of plays developed at the NT's Studio, which is the theatre’s centre for research and experimentation. The studio offers support and development time to leading and emerging artists from across the UK, free from the pressure of public performance.
Meanwhile, backstage, Accenture has also supported a number of innovative programmes including a thorough website review and IT strategy overhaul, as well as the development of exciting platforms using state-of-the-art technology. Of particular note is the “Big Wall”—a large, touch-sensitive interactive screen that takes audiences into the world behind selected productions using technology developed in the Accenture Technology Labs. These projects have led to a tangible change in the day-to-day operations of the theatre that benefits staff, actors and audiences.
In 2011, Accenture extended the relationship to support two of the National Theatre’s flagship learning programmes, Connections and Theatreworks Partnerships, both of which are helping meet Accenture’s goals of equipping young people with the skills they need to enter the world of work.
Nicholas Hytner, Director of the National Theatre, said: "This sponsorship is about far more than financial support alone. With Accenture's support we have been able to implement a number of innovations that have helped the National Theatre to broaden and deepen its appeal, particularly in enriching the audience's experience beyond what happens on our stages."
Accenture is particularly proud of this partnership that supports innovation and high performance in the arts.
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