The Stage

Hare returns to NT as part of impressive production line-up

Published Tuesday 12 September 2006 at 17:50 by Alistair Smith

David Hare is working on a new play for the National Theatre, despite falling out over the venue’s scheduling policy for his last play staged on the South Bank - Stuff Happens.

According to artistic director Nick Hytner, Hare is currently working on a new commission for the NT. He added that all that had happened with Stuff Happens was that Hare “was pissed off and we were sorry.”

Hytner also revealed that Ralph Fiennes has been lined up to star in a new production of Oedipus in 2008, which will be directed by Jonathan Kent. Also coming up will be Hytner himself directing restoration comedy The Man of Mode, Deborah Warner directing Fiona Shaw in Happy Days by Samuel Beckett and a new play by Nicholas Wright - The Reporter - which will be directed by Richard Eyre. Kneehigh’s Emma Rice will also bring a A Matter of Life and Death to the Olivier next year. Meanwhile, Marianne Elliott, who is soon to direct War Horse, has been made an associate of the NT and will direct two shows a year from now on.

Hytner also revealed that he will be looking to extend the NT’s Travelex promotion, which currently offers £10 tickets for shows in the Olivier Theatre, to the Lyttleton.

The news came as the NT revealed its financial results for 2005/6. Executive director Nick Starr also talked about the financial implications of plans to open the NT on Sundays. For more, see this week’s paper edition of The Stage.