National Theatre to re-open late October with brand new play

Photo credit: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images

Following yesterday’s green light from the government to allow socially distanced indoor performances, the National Theatre has announced it will re-open in late October with a brand new play, performed in the Olivier space.

Written by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams, Death of England: Delroy is a one-man performance starring Giles Terera (Hamilton, Rosmersholm), telling the story of a working class Black man who is arrested on his way to hospital.

This play is a follow-up to the writers’ previous show Death of England, which played in the National’s Dorfman Theatre earlier this year starring Rafe Spall.

Director of the National Theatre, Rufus Norris, said: "This week Death of England: Delroy will have its first workshop as we finally, carefully open the doors of the theatre to artists and put in place plans to start live performance again this autumn. Clint Dyer and Roy Williams have delivered another explosive piece of work; set during lockdown and charting its own fearless and provocative course through the same subjects as its prequel, and a very English reflection of the Black Lives Matter movement.

"It is so important for us to be welcoming artists back into the building again, and planning for doing the same for our much-missed audiences. The moment the incomparable Giles Terera steps out on the Olivier stage at that first performance will be an incredible one, and I'm thrilled to be reopening our theatre with such an important and timely piece of work."

Death of England: Delroy will be designed by Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey and ULTZ, with lighting by Jackie Shemesh and sound by Pete Malkin and Ben Grant.

Performance dates and ticket details are to be announced.