The Stage

National reveals autumn season dominated by Olivier events

Published Wednesday 25 July 2007 at 18:10 by Lalayn Baluch

The National Theatre has unveiled full details of its autumn season, including a new partnership with oil company Shell.

Between October and December, the NT will present three main productions, as well as a series of events to celebrate the centenary of Laurence Olivier, the company’s first artistic director.

The season will open with Noel Coward’s Present Laughter, revived by Howard Davies and starring Alex Jennings, in October at the Lyttleton. Meanwhile, Nick Stafford’s adaptation of War Horse - a novel by Michael Morpurgo - will open on October 17. The production will be directed by NT associate directors Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris at the Olivier.

Also at the Olivier, Much Ado About Nothing will be the first of three annual productions of classic drama sponsored by Shell. Directed by the Nicholas Hytner, and starring Zoe Wannamaker and Simon Russell Beale, the play will open on December 18.

The theatre will also host a short run of Enda Walsh’s Chatroom and Mark Ravenhill’s Citizenship from September 1 - both at the Cottesloe - before they leave to tour eight regional theatres.

The venue will also host Laurence Olivier Centenary celebrations, including projections of the late actor’s plays, and the unveiling of a new statue of Olivier as Hamlet. In addition, a one-off performance celebrating Olivier’s working life will be presented in the theatre named after him. Eileen Atkins, Richard Attenborough and Derek Jacobi are among those scheduled to perform.