National Theatre announces new productions for Autumn 2024

The National Theatre has announced two new productions for its South Bank stages this autumn: the world premiere of Tanika Gupta’s A Tupperware of Ashes in the Dorfman theatre from 25 September, and a new play by Alexander Zeldin inspired by Antigone called The Other Place in the Lyttelton theatre from 27 September, in association with A Zeldin Company.

Meera Syal (Behind the Beautiful Forevers) will perform in the world premiere of A Tupperware of Ashes; a vivid and heart-breaking family drama about life, immigration and the Indian spiritual cycle of death and rebirth, to be directed by Pooja Ghai.

An ambitious Michelin-star chef, Queenie is used to having the last word. But when her children notice gaps in her memory and her grip on reality loosening, they are faced with an impossible choice. As Raj, Gopal and Kamala battle to reconcile their life-long duty to their mother, the ramifications of their decision take on a heartbreaking permanence.

The cast also includes Raj Bajaj, Natalie Dew, Marc Elliott, Stephen Fewell, Shobna Gulati, Avita Jay, and Zubin Varla.

The production features set and costume design by Rosa Maggiora, lighting by Matt Haskins, composition by Nitin Sawhney, sound by Elena Peña, illusions by John Bulleid, movement direction by Anjali Mehra, and casting by Naomi Downham.

In the Lyttelton, Lee Braithwaite (Cowbois), Emma D’Arcy (House of the Dragon), Jeremy Killick (The Confessions), Tobias Menzies (Game of Thrones) and Nina Sosanya (Love Actually) will appear in The Other Place, with further casting to be announced.

Two sisters reunite on the anniversary of the death of their father. Their uncle has remodelled their family home, in an attempt at a fresh start. But one sister’s sudden reappearance threatens to shatter this fragile idyll as she demands justice for the pain she carries. Amid the debris and the new extension, guilt, grief and greed battle it out in the family’s competing dreams of their future. When we are faced with the suffering of others, even those closest to us, can we look away?

Directed by Alexander Zeldin, the production has set and costume design by Rosanna Vize, lighting by James Farncombe, composition by Yannis Philippakis, sound by Josh Anio Grigg, movement direction by Marcin Rudy, and casting by Alastair Coomer CDG.

David Oyelowo (Selma) will also make his National Theatre debut this autumn in Lyndsey Turner’s new production of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, which will play in the Olivier theatre from 11 September. Oyelowo returns to the London stage in the title role, alongside Luke Aquilina, Anushka Chakravarti, Anton Cross, Patrick Elue, Peter Forbes, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Conor McLeod, Jordan Metcalfe, Richard Pryal, Jordan Rhys, Stephanie Street and John Vernon, with further casting to be announced.

Unrivalled in the art of war, undefeated on the field of battle, Coriolanus is Rome’s greatest soldier. When a legendary victory brings the opportunity of high office, he is persuaded to stand for election. But while populist politicians tell the people what they want to hear, Coriolanus refuses to play the game. As Rome’s most celebrated warrior becomes its most dangerous enemy, the future of the city and its hero hangs in the balance.

The production features set design by Es Devlin, costumes by Annemarie Woods, lighting by Tim Lutkin, sound by Tom Gibbons, composition by Angus MacRae, video design by Ash J Woodward, and casting by Bryony Jarvis-Taylor.

Director of the National Theatre Rufus Norris said: “We are delighted to be welcoming three new productions to our South Bank stages this autumn, all created by some of the world’s greatest modern theatre-makers.

“These shows exemplify what we strive to do here at the National Theatre: to reinvestigate classics with Lyndsey Turner’s fresh take on Shakespeare’s Coriolanus in the Olivier; reimagine old stories into new plays that speak to audiences today with Alexander Zeldin’s The Other Place after Antigone in the Lyttelton; and staging new work from contemporary voices with Tanika Gupta’s A Tupperware of Ashes with Meera Syal in the central role in the Dorfman theatre. It is a rich slate exploring resonant stories and I cannot wait to share them with you all.”

Tickets for all three productions will go on sale to the public from 23 May here.