Full 2027 programme announced by National Theatre
Photo credit: Philip Vile
The National Theatre has announced its full slate of programming for 2027, bringing a world of stories to audiences everywhere. Eight world premieres sit alongside re-imaginings of modern classics; an original new British musical is unveiled alongside a rare revival of a sweeping Broadway epic; and a return to repertory theatre, led by actor Paul Mescal, stands beside an artistic collaboration with the multi-award-winning immersive theatre company, Punchdrunk.
Director and Co-Chief Executive of the National Theatre, Indhu Rubasingham, said: “Next year’s programme brings together a remarkable range of work that looks across the last century to explore the perspectives, cultures and conflicts that continue to shape our world. Some of these stories are unfamiliar, some are rediscovered, and others are boldly reimagined for the times we are living in.
“From new musicals and immersive theatre, to filmed productions translated into local languages and plays interwoven in repertory, each of these shows is shaped by extraordinary artists and united by themes of resilience and hope. Above all, at a time when we’re constantly asking what’s true, this programme puts the experience of truth at its heart.
“In the Olivier, we are premiering two new plays by leading British playwrights, each returning to pivotal moments in the 1990s, a period that drastically shaped political futures, and each exploring themes of leadership, division and the possibility of forgiveness.
“It means a lot to me to present this season of incisive plays, reflecting the international spirit at the heart of our National Theatre. With twentieth century classics, eight new plays and global stories, we are proud to continue our work of bringing the National Theatre to the world, and the world to the National Theatre.”
In 2027, the National Theatre continues in its vital role of telling bold new stories and reimagined classics that speak to today. There are new plays written by leading British writers, dramatising real political events. In the Olivier Theatre, playwright James Graham and director Jeremy Herrin reunite after the acclaimed This House and follow up with the world premiere of Major. Rising from humble Whip to Prime Minister in record time, John Major took over from Margaret Thatcher with an entirely new leadership style, and at a pivotal moment when the UK was redefining its relationship to Europe. At times of change, what does true leadership look like?
Following this in the Olivier theatre, National Theatre Director Indhu Rubasingham will direct The Great Indaba, reuniting with writer Moira Buffini after their hit production of Handbagged. In a co-production with MGC, the play dramatises how the 1998 Good Friday Agreement took a big step forward at an extraordinary meeting in South Africa between the new National Unity Government led by Nelson Mandela and the bitter political rivals within Northern Ireland. An inspirational true story of diplomacy which gives hope to the idea that peace can always be achieved even in the greatest areas of conflict.
Later in the year, British Nigerian writer Oladipo Agboluaje’s new political family drama The Adeyemis – A Family Saga will have its world premiere in the Dorfman theatre, with Lucian Msamati (Amadeus) making his National Theatre directing debut and three-time Emmy winning actor Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) also making her National Theatre debut in the role of Helen. Drawing on the richness of Oladipo Agboluaje’s acclaimed 1997 play Iya-Ile - The First Wife, this new play expands the original with a continuation of the story into one epic family drama. The Adeyemis - A Family Saga follows the fortunes of a wealthy but troubled clan through a turbulent period in Nigeria's recent history.
New plays telling global stories will sit across the stages. In the Dorfman theatre, Samira by Carmen Nasr is a thrilling, funny and provocative new play set during the Arab Spring and directed by Emily Burns. Inspired by real events, the play explores authenticity, political upheaval, and the pursuit of truth. Casting announced includes May Calamawy (Ramy) in the title role, Joshua McGuire (The Gold) as Dan, Lily Olufemi-Bywaters (Toto Kerblammo!) as Maya, Sirine Saba (Phaedra) as Rana, Karim Saleh (Luxor) as Kamil, and Antonia Salib (Hijack) as Amira.
In the Lyttelton theatre, there will be a major new stage adaptation by Natasha Gordon of celebrated author Bernardine Evaristo’s acclaimed novel Mr Loverman, directed by Paulette Randall. A love story spanning six decades of life and family, from Antigua to modern-day London; initial casting includes Gary Beadle (Les Blancs) as Morris, Gabrielle Brooks (Get Up, Stand Up!) as Maxine/Young Merty, Llewella Gideon (CARE) as Merty/Augustina, Terique Jarrett (DADDY) as Daniel/Young Barry, Jenny Jules (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Broadway) as Candaisy/Odette, Suzette Llewellyn (An Ideal Husband) as Asseleitha/Cynthia, Jo Martin (Doctor Who) as Carmel, and Danny Sapani (Les Blancs) as Barry.
The world premiere of Glorious Madness in the Dorfman, in a co-production with KPPL Productions, is a new musical with the songs (music and lyrics) of legendary Grammy and Brit Award-winning artist Joan Armatrading, framed and heard anew within an original love story. Glorious Madness is directed by Phyllida Lloyd and has a book by Iman Qureshi.
This is followed by a major revival in the Olivier theatre of the Broadway classic West Side Story, conceived by Jerome Robbins and using his original choreography for this new production, reproduced and adapted by Julio Monge, who was artistic collaborator and consultant on Steven Spielberg's 2021 film adaptation. This American masterpiece, with a book by Arthur Laurents), music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, will be co-directed in a new production reuniting directors Marianne Elliott and Miranda Cromwell after their award-winning West End and Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman.
Modern classics from both sides of the Atlantic will be given contemporary perspectives in new productions in their 60th year of cultural exchange with America in 2027. Starting off the year in the Olivier theatre, Michael Grandage returns to the National Theatre for the first time since 2010 to direct Emma Corrin (The Crown) as Catharine Holly, Arty Froushan (Daredevil: Born Again) as Doctor Cukrowicz, and Harriet Walter (The House of Bernarda Alba) as Violet Venable in a new production of Tennessee Williams’ rarely performed masterpiece Suddenly Last Summer - first premiered off-Broadway in 1958 at the York Playhouse in New York. Further casting announced today includes Mofé Akàndé (The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives) as Sister Felicity, Emma Beattie (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, West End) as Miss Foxhill, Iwan Davies (The Corn is Green) as George Holly, and Finty Williams (The Ocean at the End of the Lane, UK tour/West End) as Mrs Holly.
Closing the year in the Lyttelton theatre will be Deputy Artistic Director Robert Hastie’s new production of Tom Stoppard’s absurdist classic Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, staged 60 years since its original London and Broadway productions. BAFTA-winning actor Mawaan Rizwan (Juice) will play Rosencrantz and George Fouracres (SNL UK) is cast as Guildenstern. Rosencrantz premiered at Broadway’s Alvin Theatre in 1967, running for a full year and garnering eight Tony nominations, winning four including Best Play.
Rep will return to the Lyttelton in 2027, a theatre that was built 50 years ago with the repertory system in mind. Actor Paul Mescal (Hamnet) is cast in two productions, firstly as Biff Loman in a new staging of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman (world premiere in New York City on 10 February 1949), directed by Rebecca Frecknall, and then Michael Carney in the Irish masterpiece A Whistle in the Dark by Tom Murphy, for which Caitríona McLaughlin will return to the National Theatre to direct a co-production with Ireland’s Abbey Theatre, where the production will play following its run at the National Theatre.
Further casting announced today includes Monica Dolan (All About Eve) as Linda Loman and Tracy Letts (A House of Dynamite), who makes his UK stage acting debut as Willy Loman, in Death of a Salesman. Cast joining both shows in repertory announced today include Peter Corboy (Bad Sisters) as Howard/Hugo Carney, Eimhin Fitzgerald Doherty (The Brightening Air) as Stanley/Des Carney, Ryan Donaldson (Dear England) as Iggy Carney, Ciarán Hinds (Translations) as Uncle Ben/Dada, Aisling Loftus (Till the Stars Come Down, West End) as Miss Forsythe/Betty, and Julian Moore-Cook (Translations) as Bernard/Mush.
Also in the Lyttelton theatre next year, former National Theatre Director Richard Eyre, will direct a new production of David Hare’s landmark, award-winning play, Plenty, which examines post-World War II disillusion through the life of ex-secret agent, Susan Traherne. Staged ahead of Hare’s 80th birthday and the play's 50th anniversary, initial casting announced includes Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) making her National Theatre debut.
Continuing a longstanding creative collaboration that started with Faust in 2006, followed by The Masque of the Red Death in 2007 and The Drowned Man in 2013, the multi-award-winning theatre company Punchdrunk will mark 50 years of the opening of the National Theatre’s new Denys Lasdun designed brutalist home on the South Bank with a new immersive production. Ghostlight is conceived and directed by founder and Artistic Director of Punchdrunk Felix Barrett and curated by writer Lucy Kirkwood.
