The Stage

Mirren to star in National’s Phaedra

Published Wednesday 17 September 2008 at 15:35 by Alistair Smith

Helen Mirren is to star in a new production of Phaedra by Jean Racine at the National Theatre, it was revealed today.

The revival of Ted Hughes’ version of the French classic, which will also feature Margaret Tyzack and be directed by NT artistic director Nicholas Hytner, will be staged in the Lyttelton next summer. It was one of a raft of new productions - featuring several revivals of classics - unveiled by the venue for the coming months.

Hytner also announced that Richard Bean had written a new play for the theatre - entitled England People Very Nice - which will address the topical issue of Muslims living in Britain “very vigourously”. The play is a comedy set in Bethnal Green, spanning four waves of immigration.

Meanwhile, he also announced that Marianne Elliott will direct Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well, while Michael Grandage will bring a new staging of Danton’s Death - the 19th century German play by Georg Buchner - to the NT.

Deborah Warner will also return to the National, directing a new staging of Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children starring Fiona Shaw, while Rufus Norris will stage Death and the King’s Horseman by Wole Soyinka. Rupert Goold will direct a production of JB Priestley’s Time and the Conways. Dates and Casting for the productions have not yet been announced.