'Pranksters' break into NT, explore Follies set...

Admittedly I'm not in UK but weren't they trespassing?

I wish more theatres would do backstage tours that went into details of how the show operated instead of the sort that is mostly about the history of the theatre. I love seeing how things are put together. It's little things like a string of LED lights down a flight of stairs to illuminate the steps without lighting up the entire area that fascinate me.

I think (as with all such things) it varies depending on what's going on in the building? I've been on stage in the Lyttleton certainly with a backstage tour. I personally loved it every time I've done it, but obviously it depends on the guide/day of the week. 

On the subject of NT security, it's such a big building it can be a bit 'hit and miss' and while there's a fairly standard signing in process, and giving out of security passes, there's also a LOT of unattended doors in that building, because it's impossible to 'man' them all- so for example while I was studiously 'signed in' and given a security pass during the tech rehearsals of Angels I sat in on equally I walked in and out of the Lyttleton for loo/coffee breaks unstopped- granted had I been I had appropriate passes etc, but obviously on a performance day (and we're talking late into the night here post-performance) there's much coming and going to contend with. It's a tough one- nobody wants the building back in 'lock down' again but equally, nobody wants an accident to either building or people. 

Not gonna lie - I'd be trying on the costumes.

We can talk about how dodgy the NT's security is but a very similar prankster did the same thing in the White House and got away with it.

He went in during the day and stayed there until the place closed down and he managed to walk around and eventually walk out without being caught.

My point is these people will manage to get in anywhere they want if they want to.

These guys make their living by getting into places at night and making videos. I've been bored at Christmas and I have a young nephew into these things (you tube, not breaking and entering) and these guys were the same ones who ended up on the roof of the Manchester City stadium and also climbed up the roller coaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, among many other things.

The most worrying thing was they were approached inside the NT by a security man but it seems wearing high vis and saying a story to them lets you get away with anything. Crazy.

I think the key to these stunts though is that there’s no breaking involved. They’re walking through unlocked doors or jumping fences, in other words breaching security and trespassing but not actually breaking in which no doubt puts a different spin on it legally. 

I'm not surprised the NT security is so poor.

We've twice parked in the NT's underground carpark and both times had satnavs stolen from the car (hidden in the glove compartment, so not on view).

The first time the NT fobbed us off with 'it's not run by us, so not our responsilbilty'. The second time they said security had reviewed the CCTV mages and seen no one near the car.