Details have been announced for the National Theatre’s season running from July 2018 to January 2019.
Highlights include:
- Peter Brook returns to direct at the National Theatre for the first time in 50 years with The Prisoner, co-directed with Marie-Hélène Estienne
- Following the acclaimed Consent, Nina Raine returns to the NT with her new play Stories starring Claudie Blakley
- Anthony Neilson makes his NT debut with new play The Tell-Tale Heart, based on the short story by Edgar Allan Poe
- Nine Night, Natasha Gordon’s critically acclaimed debut play, transfers to the West End following a sold-out run at the NT
- Further cast announced for Antony and Cleopatra alongside Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo, playing from September
- Cast confirmed for world premiere of David Hare’s new play I’m Not Running, including Siân Brooke, Alex Hassell and Joshua McGuire
- Alexander Hanson and Joanna Riding to join the cast of Follies, returning to the Olivier Theatre in February 2019
- War Horse returns to the NT marking the centenary of Armistice Day
The Human Voice
13 September to 6 October 2018 (press night is 18 September)
By Jean Cocteau in a translation by Daniel Raggett, directed by Daniel Raggett. This production will present a brand new version of this classic text, 34 years since it was first produced at the Gate Theatre.
Antony & Cleopatra
Olivier Theatre: In rep from 18 September 2018 to 19 January 2019 (press night is 26 September). Broadcast live as part of NT Live to cinemas worldwide on 6 December.
Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo play the famous fated couple. Simon Godwin (Twelfth Night) directs. Cast also includes Fisayo Akinade, Alexander Cobb, Tunji Kasim, Georgia Landers, Nicholas Le Prevost, Tim McMullan, Hannah Morrish, Shazia Nicholls, Gloria Obianyo, Nick Sampson, Katy Stephens and Sargon Yelda with further cast to be announced.
I’m Not Running
Lyttelton Theatre: in rep from 2 October 2018 to 31 January 2018 (press night is 9 October). Broadcast live as part of NT Live to cinemas worldwide on 31 January.
David Hare’s explosive new play portrays the history of a 20—year intimate friendship and its public repercussions. Cast includes Siân Brooke, Alex Hassell, Joshua McGuire, Amaka Okafor, Liza Sadovy and Brigid Zengeni. Directed by Neil Armfield.
The Prisoner
Dorfman Theatre: 12 September to 4 October 2018 (press night is 17 September)
Peter Brook and his long-time collaborator Marie-Hélène Estienne return to London with a provocative study of what it means to be free. Cast includes Hiran Abeysekera, Hervé Goffings, Omar Silva, Kalieaswari Srinivasan and Donald Sumpter.
Stories
Dorfman Theatre: 10 October to 28 November 2018 (press night is 17 October)
Following the critically acclaimed Consent, Nina Raine returns to the NT with this funny and touching new play about the fertilisation of an idea, which she also directs. Claudie Blakley plays Anna with further cast to be announced.
The Tell-Tale Heart
Dorfman Theatre: 5 December 2018 to 9 January 2019 (press night is 12 December)
Anthony Neilson (The Prudes, Unreachable, The Wonderful World of Dissocia) makes his NT debut with this contemporary reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tale of a haunted conscience. Cast includes David Carlyle, Imogen Doel and Tamara Lawrance. Neilson also directs.
War Horse
Lyttelton Theatre: In rep from 8 November 2018 to 5 January 2019
Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford and directed by Marianne Elliott, presented in association with the Handspring Puppet Company. Eleven years after its NT debut, and having played in 11 countries to over seven million people, War Horse returns to the National Theatre to mark the centenary of Armistice Day.
The cast is Marcus Adolphy, Adam Barlow, Peter Becker, Joëlle Brabban, Lucas Button, Jasper William Cartwright, Jo Castleton, Chris Charles, Jonathan Charles, Sebastian Charles, Anna Chessher, Nicky Cross, Thomas Dennis, Bob Fox, Max Gallagher, Chris Garner, Andrew Hodges, Lewis Howard, William Ilkley, Ben Ingles, Billy Irving, Elan James, Kiran Landa, Gwilym Lloyd, Jack Lord, Stephen Love, Toyin Omari-Kinch, Samuel Parker, Tom Quinn, Domonic Ramsden, Arinder Sadhra, Tom Stacy, Elizabeth Stretton and Simon Victor. Katie Henry is the revival director and Craig Leo is the associate puppetry director.
Follies
Olivier Theatre: February 2019, on sale until 26 March with further performances to be announced
Janie Dee and Peter Forbes return to reprise their roles in Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s Follies, with Alexander Hanson and Joanna Riding join the cast as Ben and Sally with further casting to be announced. Follies is directed by Dominic Cooke.
Nine Night
Trafalgar Studios: 1 December 2018 to 9 February 2019 (press night is 6 December)
Following a sold out run at the National Theatre, Natasha Gordon’s critically debut play Nine Night will transfer to Trafalgar Studios in a co-production with Trafalgar Theatre Productions. Directed by Roy Alexander Weise. Casting for the West End transfer to be announced.
Courage Everywhere
15 to 18 November 2018
To mark the 100th anniversary of the first women in the UK gaining the right to vote, the NT marks this historic moment through a series of rehearsed readings, talks and screenings. World-class directors will bring these seminal plays to life on themes of suffrage and courage in order to recognise the fight for political equality in the UK and around the world.
