Rebecca Frecknall to make National Theatre debut as part of latest season

Rebecca Frecknall will make her National Theatre directorial debut with The House of Bernarda Alba adapted by Alice Birch, in a season that includes a new play about the creation of the NHS and a musical based on Charles Dickens’ Our Mutual Friend.

The season includes 12 productions, and features actors including Michael Sheen, David Oyelowo and Harriet Walter.

Nye, a new play by Tim Price, is about Aneurin Bevan’s “battle to create the NHS” and stars Sheen. It will be directed by director of the National Theatre Rufus Norris, with set design by Vicki Mortimer, costume design by Kinnetia Isidore, lighting by Paule Constable and sound by Donato Wharton. It will play in the Olivier from February.

Shakespeare’s Coriolanus will star Oyelowo, also in the Olivier and directed by Lyndsey Turner. Dates are to be announced.

In the Lyttelton, Alexander Zeldin has penned The Confessions, running from October 19 to November 4, with press night on October 20.

Birch’s adaptation of The House of Bernada Alba, directed by Frecknall, runs from November 16 until January 6, 2024, with a press night on November 28.

Kin, by Amit Lahav and Gecko Production, runs in January next year, with Dear Octopus, by Dodie Smith and directed by Emily Burns. It runs in February and stars Lindsay Duncan.

London Tide, based on Our Mutual Friend, has been adapted by Ben Power and has songs by PJ Harvey. It will be directed by Ian Rickson, with set and costume design by Bunny Christie.

The cast includes Bella Maclean and Ami Tredrea.

In the Dorfman, Clint Dyer and Roy Williams will stage Death of England: Closing Time, which is the final chapter in the Death of England series. It plays from this September, starring Jo Martin and Hayley Squires.

Meanwhile, a new play by Annie Baker, in a co-production with Atlantic Theater Company, will run from November this year. It is called Infinite Life and is directed by James Macdonald.

Playwright Beth Steel will make her National Theatre debut with Till the Stars Come Down in January, directed by Bijan Sheibani. It is described as a “passionate, heartbreaking and hilarious portrayal of a larger-than-life family who are struggling to come to terms with a changing world”.

Sarah Gordon has written Underdog: The Other Other Bronte, directed by Natalie Ibu, who are both making their NT debuts. It is a co-production with Northern Stage and plays from March.

The Hot Wing King, by Katori Hall, will be directed by Roy Alexander Weise. It marks Hall’s debut at the NT.

The NT has also announced The Motive and the Cue, by Jack Thorne, will transfer to the West End, running at the Noel Coward Theatre from December 9.

Johnny Flynn, Mark Gatiss and Tuppence Middleton return to their roles in the play, directed by Sam Mendes.

 

Season at a glance

Dorfman theatre

Death of England: Closing Time by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams
September 13 to November 11

Infinite Life by Annie Baker
Directed by James Macdonald
November 22 to January 13

Till The Stars Come Down by Beth Steel
Directed by Bijan Sheibani
January 2024

Underdog: The Other Other Brontë by Sarah Gordon
Directed by Natalie Ibu
March 2024

The Hot Wing King by Katori Hall
Directed by Roy Alexander Weise
July 2024

Lyttelton theatre

The Confessions by Alexander Zeldin
Directed by Alexander Zeldin
October 19 to November 4

The House of Bernarda Alba by Alice Birch
Directed by Rebecca Frecknall
November 16 to January 6

Kin by Amit Lahav
January 12 to January 27

Dear Octopus by Dodie Smith
Directed by Emily Burns
February 2024

London Tide by Ben Power
Directed by Ian Rickson
April 2024

Noel Coward Theatre (West End)

The Motive and the Cue by Jack Thorne
Directed by Sam Mendes
December 9 to March 23

Gillian Lynne Theatre (West End)

Standing at the Sky’s Edge by Chris Bush
Directed by Robert Hastie
February 8

Olivier theatre

Nye by Tim Price
Directed by Rufus Norris
February 2024

Coriolanus by William Shakespeare
Directed by Lyndsey Turner
September 2024