Its director-in-waiting, Nicholas Hytner, has unveiled his grand plans for the future of London venue under his leadership

One of his first tasks will be to introduce £10 tickets for many of the large productions, with up to two-thirds of the audience benefiting from cheaper seats, while the rest will cost £25.

The spring season will première plays from leading directors including Michael Frayn, Mike Leigh and Casualty actor Kwame Kwei-Armah.

Hytner, who takes over the reigns from Trevor Nunn in April, will direct Henry V for his debut production in charge.

Simon Russell Beale has won many awards for his theatre work

His plans to reduce prices will see a six-month season of "bold new ways of staging plays" in the Olivier, the National's largest auditorium.

Trash opera

"What I want to do is find a way of getting people in to try what we have got to offer, the same way you feel able to try a movie at the weekend even if you do not know much about it," Hytner told BBC News.

The National Theatre company will include Robert Lindsay, Zoe Wanamaker, Stephen Rea and Bafta-winner Simon Russell Beale.

The National will also stage Jerry Springer: The Opera, a satirical look at the world of trashy television.

The show won rave reviews when it debuted at the 2002 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The National has several smaller auditoriums - the Cottlesloe and the Lyttelton - where tickets will also been reduced.

The Cottlesloe will present a repertoire of predominantly new work, while the Lyttelton will see a blend of innovation.