Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart to play at the National Theatre in February 2021

Some 34 years after its European premiere, Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart returns to London to play at the National Theatre in February 2021.

The autobiographical play follows the founder of an AIDS advocacy group, Ned Weeks, who will be played by Ben Daniels. He will be joined by Danny Lee Wynter as Tommy Boatwright, Daniel Monks as Mickey Marcus and Stanley Townsend as Ben Weeks.

The Normal Heart will be staged in the socially distanced Olivier Theatre and will be directed by Dominic Cooke with design by Vicki Mortimer and lighting by Paule Constable.

Cooke said: "As a student I was lucky enough to see the landmark Royal Court production of The Normal Heart starring Martin Sheen. It had a profound effect on me at the time and I've wanted to direct the play ever since. It is the rarest of things; a history play written by one of its key participants. It deals with the nature of political activism, the internal battle many LGBT people fight to feel worthy of love and, topically, the refusal of those in power to face the reality of an unfolding health crisis

"Larry Kramer was a firebrand and The Normal Heart is written with all of his characteristic ferocity, political insight and wit. I've been talking with Ben Daniels for over five years about playing Ned Weeks. He is one of our greatest actors and I cannot wait to begin working with him, alongside the rest of the company and the brilliant team at the NT who Kate Horton and I, as Fictionhouse, will be co-producing with."

Ticket on sale dates and a full show schedule will follow in due course. To be the first to hear, sign up to the mailing list here.