New season at the NT: June 2017 to January 2018

Lots of exciting news in the National's new season announcement, taking us up to January 2018, rather putting the lie to the cries of "crisis" that pop up far too easily when a less-than-well-received show (or two) takes up residency there.

Highlights for me include the perfection of this production pic:

The return of Barber Shop Chronicles:

Justine Mitchell and Sam Troughton appearing in a thing together (this may or may not be their feet:

And of course the Ivo van Hove/Lee Hall/Bryan Cranston amazefest that will be Network (which will have some onstage seating!):

Olivier Theatre


Follies
Book by James Goldman
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Previews from 22 August
Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee and Imelda Staunton play the magnificent Follies in Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical. Featuring a cast of 37 and an orchestra of 21, the production is directed by Dominic Cooke (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom).

Saint George and the Dragon
A new play by Rory Mullarkey
Previews from 4 October
John Heffernan plays Saint George; the cast also includes Paul Brennen, Richard Goulding, Tamzin Griffin, Conor Neaves, Amaka Okafor, Daniel Ryan and Grace Saif. Directed by Lyndsey Turner (Chimerica, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire). Hundreds of Travelex tickets at £15 available per performance.

Amadeus
by Peter Shaffer
Previews from 11 January
Following a sell-out run last year, Amadeus returns to the Olivier in 2018. Michael Longhurst's acclaimed production of Peter Shaffer's iconic play features live orchestral accompaniment by Southbank Sinfonia. Adam Gillen and Lucian Msamati reprise the roles of Mozart and Salieri. Further casting to be announced.


Lyttelton Theatre


Queer Theatre: LGBT+ Stories and Social Change
in partnership with Pride in London
To mark 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales, the NT looks at how theatre has charted the LGBT+ experience. Events include a debate on LGBT+ rights, talks on Queer Stages, Trans Culture and Drag as an Art Form, and film screenings of Paris was a Woman, Bette Bourne: It Goes with the Shoes and Tangerine. The series features rehearsed readings in the Lyttelton Theatre with full casting to be announced. Post show talks will follow each of the readings.
Neaptide by Sarah Daniels, directed by Sarah Frankcom | Thu 6 July, 7.30pm
Wig Out! written and directed by Tarell Alvin McCraney | Fri 7 July, 7.30pm
Certain Young Men written and directed by Peter Gill | Sat 8 July, 7.30pm
Bent by Martin Sherman, directed by Stephen Daldry | Sun 9 July, 2.30pm
The Drag by Mae West, directed by Polly Stenham | Mon 10 July, 7.30pm

Oslo
a new play by J.T. Rogers
The Lincoln Center Theater production
Previews from 5 September
Bartlett Sher’s Tony Award-winning production of this new play by J.T. Rogers comes to the National Theatre following a sell-out run in New York. It then transfers to the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End from 30 September. Cast to be announced.

Jane Eyre
based on the novel by Charlotte Brontë
devised by the original company
a co-production with Bristol Old Vic
Previews from 26 September
Following a critically-acclaimed season at the National Theatre and a 21 city UK tour, Jane Eyre returns this September. This innovative reimagining of Charlotte Brontë’s masterpiece is a collaboration between the National Theatre and Bristol Old Vic and is directed by Sally Cookson.

Network
adapted by Lee Hall
based on the Paddy Chayefsky film
Previews from 4 November
The iconic film by Paddy Chayefsky won four Academy Awards in 1976. Now, Lee Hall (Billy Elliot, Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour) and director Ivo van Hove (Hedda Gabler) bring his masterwork to the stage for the first time, with Bryan Cranston making his UK stage debut in the role of Howard Beale.

Pinocchio
by Dennis Kelly
With songs and score from the Walt Disney film by Leigh Harline, Ned Washington and Paul J Smith
adapted by Martin Lowe
Previews from 1 December
For the first time on stage, featuring unforgettable music and songs from the Walt Disney film including 'I’ve Got No Strings', 'Give a Little Whistle' and 'When You Wish upon a Star' in dazzling new arrangements, Pinocchio comes to life as never before. This spectacular new production brings together the director of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the writer of Matilda the Musical.

Half-price tickets for under-18s are available for all performances (excluding £15 tickets). Additional family tickets for the run will be released in a ballot closer to the performance dates.

Cast includes Joe Idris-Roberts (Pinocchio), Audrey Brisson (Jiminy Cricket), Annette McLaughlin (Blue Lady), David Langham (The Fox), David Kirkbride (Coachman), Dawn Sievewright (Lampy), Chris Jarman (Stromboli) together with Stuart Angell, Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge, Stephanie Bron, James Charlton, Rebecca Jayne-Davies, Sarah Kameela Impey, Anabel Kutay, Michael Lin, Jack North, Clemmie Sveaas, Michael Taibi,Scarlet Wilderink and Jack Wolfe.

Dorfman Theatre


Mosquitoes
by Lucy Kirkwood
Previews from 18 July, continuing in repertoire until 28 September
Mosquitoes by Lucy Kirkwood will have its world premiere in the Dorfman Theatre in July. Rufus Norris will direct this new play about families and particle physics with Olivia Williams in the role of Alice and Olivia Colman as her sister Jenny. Cast also includes: Amanda Boxer, Cait Davis, Vanessa Emme, Yoli Fuller, Paul Hilton, Joseph Quinn and Sofia Stuart.

The Majority
a new play by Rob Drummond
Previews from 11 August
Following the acclaimed run of Bullet Catch in The Shed, Rob Drummond returns to the National with a new one-man show about democracy, directed by David Overend. Originally co-commissioned with The Arches, Glasgow.

Beginning
a new play by David Eldridge
Polly Findlay directs this new play by David Eldridge (Market Boy, Under the Blue Sky, In Basildon). Tender and funny, it’s an intimate look at the first fragile moments of risking your heart and taking a chance. Justine Mitchell plays Laura, Sam Troughton plays Danny.

Barber Shop Chronicles
by Inua Ellams
a co-production with Fuel and West Yorkshire Playhouse
Opens in November
Following a sell-out run at the Dorfman this summer, Inua Ellams’ play about stories from barber shops across the globe returns to the National Theatre in November. Tickets go on sale on the National Theatre website from 1pm on Monday 19 June. Casting for November to be confirmed in due course.

National Theatre Live


Saloméa radical retelling of the Biblical story of one young woman’s political awakening. Written and directed by Yaël Farber.
Broadcast live from the NT on Thursday 22 June.

Angels in America
Marianne Elliott’s new production of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America will be broadcast live from the NT in two parts. Part 1: Millennium Approaches on Thursday 20 July and Part 2: Perestroika on Thursday 27 July.

Yerma
Billie Piper plays Yerma as a woman driven to the unthinkable by her desperate desire to have a child. Simon Stone creates a radical production of Lorcha’s achingly powerful masterpiece. Broadcast live from the Young Vic on Thursday 31 August (international screenings from 21 September).

Young Marx
Rory Kinnear plays Marx and Oliver Chris, Engels, in this new comedy about Marx’s time as a 32-year-old revolutionary in 1850 London. Written by Richard Bean and Clive Coleman and directed by Nicholas Hytner. Broadcast live from The Bridge Theatre on 7 December.

Julius Caesar
Ben Whishaw and Michelle Fairley play Brutus and Cassius, leaders of the coup, David Calder plays Caesar and David Morrissey is Mark Antony, who brings Rome back under control after the conspirators’ defeat in this production of Shakespeare’s classic. Directed by Nicholas Hytner. Broadcast live from The Bridge Theatre on 22 March 2018.




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