The National Theatre has announced its upcoming 2018 programme of work including three world premieres and actors such as Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Kirby, Cecilia Noble, Katherine Parkinson and Indira Varma taking to the stage.
In its Autumn conference, the National Theatre announced it will be presenting three world premieres as well as classics reimagined by Polly Stenham and Patrick Marber.
Opening at the Olivier Theatre from May 2018, Ian Rickson will direct Brian Friel’s Translations. This account of language and nationhood set in Donegal, is set to star Colin Morgan, making his National Theatre debut.
Patrick Marber will then adapt and direct Ionesco’s Exit the King. The dark comedy will see Rhys Ifans as the King and Indira Varma as his Queen when the production opens in July 2018.
This will then be followed by Simon Godwin’s production of Antony and Cleopatra, set to star Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo as the iconic lovers. Opening in September, the production will also be broadcast worldwide as part of the NT Live season.
Finally announced for the Olivier Theatre will be another Shakespeare production – his late romance Pericles, reimagined in Chris Bush’s new production. It will be directed by Emily Lim, choreographed by Imogen Knight with music composed by James Fortune.
Meanwhile, the Lyttelton theatre’s new 2018 season will open with Joe Hill-Gibbins directing Rodney Ackland’s Absolute Hell in April 2018. It is a story that plunges the audience into post-war Soho, full of despair, longing and a need to escape.
June 2018 will see Polly Stenham’s updated version of Strindberg’s tragedy Miss Julie transforming it contemporary London. The production will be directed by Carrie Cracknell and stars Vanessa Kirby.
The Lehman Trilogy, by Stefano Massini will open at the Lyttelton from July 2018. Directed by Sam Mendes, the story is a tale of a family and a company that changed the world.
David Hare’s new play I’m Not Running will open at the National Theatre in the autumn 2018. This is the first National Theatre production to be directed by Neil Armfield.
The Dorfman Theatre will see Indhu Rubasingham return to the National Theatre to direct The Great Wave – a co-production with the Tricycle. The production, opening in March 2018, will feature designs by Tom Piper, video projection by Luke Halls, lighting design by Oliver Fenwick, movement direction by Polly Bennett and music by David Shrubsole.
This will then be followed by the debut play by Natasha Gordon. Nine Night is an exploration of the rituals of family and will be playing at the theatre from April 2018. Directed by Roy Alexander Weise, the cast will include Cecilia Noble.
Other productions in The Dorfman will include Ned Bennett’s highly praised production for the Orange Tree Theatre of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ provocative and hilarious satire An Octoroon, Home, I’m Darling and a new production of The Winter’s Tale for primary schools, opening in the Dorfman theatre in February 2018.
For more information about the upcoming productions visit: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/