National Theatre’s Shed could stay on South Bank for 3 more years

This week Lambeth planning officers approved an application to retain The Shed until March 2017.

The award-winning 250-seater wooden structure was due to dismantled this year when the National's refurbished Dorfman theatre reopens.

Designed by Haworth Tompkins, the bright red structure occupies Theatre Square between the NT and Waterloo Bridge.

With The Shed remaining in Theatre Square, the National has announced that this year's Watch This Space summer festival of circus, music and theatre will be held in the churchyard of St John's Waterloo.

Throughout July and August, the festival hub will be at St John's with outdoor entertainment in and around the churchyard.

WTS will also go on tour around Lambeth and Southwark from Brockwell Park and Brixton Market to Camberwell Green and the Aylesbury Estate.

This week the National Theatre also announced the appointment of Channel 4's Tessa Ross as its new chief executive, replacing outgoing executive director Nick Starr.

Ross will work alongside new director Rufus Norris who joins the NT in April 2015.