National Theatre announces new co-production of THE WITCHES

The National Theatre has announced a new co-production of Roald Dahl’s The Witches with the Roald Dahl Story Company, playing from 7 November.

The Witches will play in the Olivier theatre in a new musical version of the iconic story by Lucy Kirkwood and Dave Malloy, directed by Lyndsey Turner.

The Witches is a rip-roaring musical version of Roald Dahl’s timeless tale, filled with wit, daring and heart.

Everything you know about witches is wrong. Forget the pointy hats and broomsticks: they’re the most dangerous creatures on earth. And now they’ve come up with their most evil plan yet.

The only thing standing in their way is Luke and his Gran. But he’s ten and she’s got a dodgy heart. Time is short, danger is everywhere, and they’ve got just one chance to stop the witches from squalloping every stinking little child in England.

One of Dahl’s most loved stories, The Witches is a brilliant blend of his trademark humour and hair-raising action, featuring one of his most iconic characters, the Grand High Witch. A firm fan favourite across the generations, the book has sold over 11 million copies since it was first published.

The cast includes three-time Olivier-nominated Katherine Kingsley (The Larkins) as the Grand High Witch and BAFTA Award-winner Daniel Rigby (One Man, Two Guvnors) as Mr Stringer, alongside Julie Armstrong, Chrissie Bhima, Zoe Birkett, Daniele Coombe, Molly-May Gardiner, Tiffany Graves, Tania Mathurin, Jacob Maynard, Laura Medforth and Ben Redfern.

The production has set and costume design by Lizzie Clachan, with choreography by Stephen Mear, music supervision by Nigel Lilley, music direction by Cat Beveridge, lighting by Bruno Poet, co-sound design by Alexander Caplen and Ian Dickinson, video design by Ash J Woodward, illusions by Chris Fisher and Will Houstoun, and casting by Bryony Jarvis-Taylor.

Director of the National Theatre Rufus Norris said: “I’m thrilled that the National Theatre and Roald Dahl Story Company are coming together for the first time to bring one of Dahl’s most enduring stories to the Olivier stage. This extraordinary, exciting production of The Witches with Lucy Kirkwood’s brilliant, witty book and Lyndsey Turner’s ambitious vision is the culmination of many years of development at the National Theatre’s exceptional New Work Department. With Dave Malloy at the musical helm, I couldn’t be more excited to be bringing this ambitious new piece of music theatre to the stage.

Tickets go on sale to the public on 27 April here.