 The opening production of the National Theatre was Hamlet in October 1963 , starring Peter O 'Toole and directed by Olivier . O 'Toole was a guest star , one of occasional exceptions to Olivier 's policy of casting productions from a regular company . Among those who made a mark during Olivier 's directorship were Michael Gambon , Maggie Smith , Alan Bates , Derek Jacobi and Anthony Hopkins . It was widely remarked that Olivier seemed reluctant to recruit his peers to perform with his company . Evans , Gielgud and Paul Scofield guested only briefly , and Ashcroft and Richardson never appeared at the National during Olivier 's time . Robert Stephens , a member of the company , observed , " Olivier 's one great fault was a paranoid jealousy of anyone who he thought was a rival " . 
 The opening production of the National Theatre was Hamlet in October 1963 , starring Peter O 'Toole and directed by Olivier . O 'Toole was a guest star , one of occasional exceptions to Olivier <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>policy of casting productions from a regular company . Among those <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>who</mark></a>made a mark during Olivier <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>directorship <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> Michael Gambon , Maggie Smith , Alan Bates , Derek Jacobi and Anthony Hopkins . It was widely remarked that Olivier seemed reluctant to recruit his peers to perform with his company . Evans , Gielgud and Paul Scofield guested only briefly , and Ashcroft and Richardson never appeared at the National during Olivier <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>time . Robert Stephens , a member of the company , observed , " Olivier <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>one great fault was a paranoid jealousy of anyone who he thought was a rival " . 
The opening production of the National Theatre was Hamlet in October 1963 , starring Peter O 'Toole and directed by Olivier . O 'Toole was a guest star , one of occasional exceptions to Olivier  policy of casting productions from a regular company . Among those made a mark during Olivier  directorship was Michael Gambon , Maggie Smith , Alan Bates , Derek Jacobi and Anthony Hopkins . It was widely remarked that Olivier seemed reluctant to recruit his peers to perform with his company . Evans , Gielgud and Paul Scofield guested only briefly , and Ashcroft and Richardson never appeared at the National durin Olivier  time . Robert Stephens , a member of the company , observed , " Olivier  one great fault was a paranoid jealousy of anyone who he thought was a rival " .