Laurence Olivier performed in England.
Laurence Kerr Olivier , Baron Olivier , ( [ ˈlɒrəns_kɜr_ɒˈlɪvieɪ ] 22 May 1907 -- 11 July 1989 ) , was an English actor who , along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud , dominated the British stage of the mid-20th century . In the 1950s Olivier was an independent actor-manager , but his stage career was in the doldrums until he joined the avant garde English Stage Company in 1957 to play the title role in The Entertainer , a part he later played on film . The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square , in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , London , England . The Royal National Theatre ( generally known as the National Theatre ) in London is one of the United Kingdom 's three most prominent publicly funded performing arts venues , alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House .