National Theatre announces Rufus Norris’ final season
Rufus Norris has announced his final programme as Director of the National Theatre, concluding his decade leading the organisation and creating a lasting impact for generations to come.
This final season features stories told by world-class theatre-makers that reflect a rich and resonant range of perspectives. From Shaan Sahota’s brand-new play The Estate, directed by Daniel Raggett, a family drama and political satire about the moral downfall of a politician played by Adeel Akhtar, to Suzie Miller who reunites with director Justin Martin following the global success of Prima Facie, for the world premiere of Inter Alia, with initial casting that includes Rosamund Pike making her National Theatre debut as an eminent High Court Judge forced to reckon her professional life and role as wife, mother, friend and feminist. Guyana-born British writer Michael Abbensetts’ era-defining comedy from the Black Plays Archive Alterations, which illuminates the Guyanese experience of 1970s London and the aspirations and sacrifices of the Windrush generation. Refreshed with additional material by Trish Cooke, Alterations will receive its largest ever staging by director Lynette Linton, with initial casting that includes Arinzé Kene making his National Theatre debut and Cherrelle Skeete. Former Young Vic Artistic Director David Lan's new play The Land of the Living will be directed by Stephen Daldry, with a cast that includes Juliet Stevenson, and tells the story of displaced children after World War II. End, a new play by David Eldridge – the concluding part of his trilogy of plays commissioned by Rufus during his tenure – will be directed by Lyric Hammersmith Artistic Director Rachel O'Riordan.
Two musicals will be staged at the National Theatre in 2025. Stephen Sondheim’s final musical Here We Are, with a book by Tony Award-nominee David Ives, makes its UK debut in a new production after its Off-Broadway premiere in 2023, directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello and with a cast including Tracie Bennett, Rory Kinnear and Denis O’Hare. Alongside this is the return of Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork’s innovative award-winning musical London Road, directed by Rufus Norris, which will also be captured for a future streaming release on National Theatre at Home.
This season will also see the return of two epic state-of–the-nation plays, Dear England by James Graham, directed by Rupert Goold, telling the story of the England men’s football team under Gareth Southgate, with Graham updating his epic examination of nation and game to reflect Southgate’s final chapter as England Manager, and Nye, Tim Price’s celebrated Welsh fantasia which charts the life of Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan and his battle to create the NHS, directed by Rufus Norris.
Director and Co-Chief Executive, Rufus Norris, said: “Leading the creative powerhouse that is the National Theatre over the past decade has been a profound privilege. I am humbled by the commitment, dedication and passion shown day in and day out by the extraordinary people who have joined me in the mission to make the NT a representative, sustainable, world class theatre, reaching far beyond its concrete walls. From establishing the New Work Department, which has sparked an explosion of new voices on and off stage, to creating NT at Home, now streaming in nearly every county in the world, I am beyond thrilled that NT now has a global audience reach of 19 million. There is simply nowhere else like it on earth. I can’t wait to watch from the wings as it flourishes and grows for future generations to enjoy under the brilliant leadership of Indhu Rubasingham and Kate Varah.”
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