Breaking: National Theatre announces Indhu Rubasingham's inaugural programme
The organisation has unveiled plans for its next exciting chapter
Co-Chief Executives Indhu Rubasingham and Kate Varah has announced the National Theatre’s next chapter, offering the widest access to the highest quality theatre in the world. Inspired by the National Theatre's rich past and excited by its bright future, they laid out their plans to achieve Indhu’s artistic vision to bring the world to the National Theatre and take the National Theatre to the world.
The National Theatre continues its commitment to welcoming audiences wherever they are in the world, earning their trust by telling big stories in bold ways. The organisation will ensure that the most compelling stories are brought to life by the world's leading artists on their stages, across the UK, and in classrooms, homes, and cinemas around the world.
Indhu’s first programme sets the stage for this exciting next chapter, where reimagined classic stories meet fresh, contemporary voices. With 16 brand new productions, this exciting programme includes nine world premieres, two tours for schools and a return to repertory theatre for the first time since 2020. Central to the work is a celebration of writers sharing stories that reflect our nation and the wider world, and the international spirit of the programme will transport audiences across continents offering new perspectives that resonate with global audiences.
Music plays a vital role across the programme, recognising its power to elevate storytelling and create unforgettable live experiences. This first season features a brand-new musical based on an award-winning film, world premiere scores by leading composers and, in a thrilling collaboration, it is announced that Stormzy and Indhu are working on an upcoming production to premiere at the National Theatre.
Find out more about the programme in full below.
Two plays kickstart this spirit of reinvention, ancient stories in modern voices, both with strong links to the National Theatre's history.
Opening in September is the first ever debut play on the Olivier stage, Bacchae by Nima Taleghani. Directed by Indhu Rubasingham this story from the birth of Western drama, celebrating the God of theatre, is infused with anarchic energy. Fuelled by spoken word and rhyme, audiences are set for a riot of lyricism, music and movement. The cast will include James McArdle, Clare Perkins and Ukweli Roach. The piece will be filmed for future filming release on National Theatre at Home, and be adapted by Taleghani to tour secondary schools and colleges nationwide, directed by Hannah Hauer-King - part of the organisation's ambition to reach and impact every schoolchild in the UK before they leave school.
Kendall Feaver’s acclaimed adaptation of Noel Streatfeild’s beloved novel Ballet Shoes, directed by Katy Rudd, returns to the Olivier this festive season. This hit show brings to life stories for everyone to enjoy, while Next Christmas will see Anupama Chandrasekhar’s new adaptation of The Jungle Book staged at the Olivier. Directed by Indhu Rubasingham and with puppetry by Finn Caldwell and Nick Barnes, this retelling of the stories of Rudyard Kipling will be framed through a contemporary lens, exploring the enduring theme of nature versus nurture.
The British premiere of The Story by leading American playwright Tracey Scott Wilson inspired by real events, platforms the story of an ambitious black reporter who defies her editor to pursue an incendiary lead, choosing to go to any length to get ‘the story’. Letitia Wright makes her National Theatre debut in the Olivier, directed by National Theatre Artistic Associate, Clint Dyer.
Marianne Elliott returns after nine years to direct a major revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses with Monica Barbaro, Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner. Adapted by Christopher Hampton, this marks Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ epistolary novel's first staging at the National Theatre.
The first play of the season to open in the Lyttelton is one that has defined key moments in the National Theatre’s history, Hamlet. The play inaugurated the National Theatre company at the Old Vic in 1963 and was the first produced on the South Bank in 1976. Hiran Abeysekera leads in the eponymous role, directed by Robert Hastie, the National Theatre's Deputy Artistic Director.
The Playboy of the Western World will see John Millington Synge’s Irish classic honouring the rich heritage and influence of Irish drama on British theatre in the Lyttelton. Directed by Caitríona McLaughlin, Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre, the National Theatre of Ireland, casting includes Nicola Coughlan, Éanna Hardwicke, Siobhán McSweeney and Marty Rea.
In 2027, the Lyttelton will return to repertory for the first time since 2020, offering audiences an exciting season of complementary productions. Paul Mescal will make his National Theatre debut in two 20th century classics, Tom Murphy’s A Whistle in the Dark in a co-production with the Abbey Theatre (where the production subsequently transfers), directed by Caitríona McLaughlin and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, directed by Rebecca Frecknall. Both plays focus on dysfunctional family relationships, the struggle for identity, and the crushing weight of societal and familial expectations. A second pair of repertory productions in the Lyttelton will be announced at a later date.
Multi-award-winning playwright Caryl Churchill returns to the National Theatre for the first time since 2019 with her landmark play Cloud 9, which explores sexual politics, colonialism, and gender roles, which sees director Dominic Cooke reuniting with Churchill.
The Dorfman season features two world premiere plays, a reimagined classic and a brand-new musical based on a much-loved film, which focus on the themes of identity and authenticity.
P&P Productions presents PRIDE with the National Theatre, a brand-new musical based on the award-winning film, reuniting filmmakers Matthew Warchus (Direction and Development) and Stephen Beresford (Book and Lyrics). The true story of how a group of lesbian and gay activists joined the miners’ strike campaign of 1984 is brought to life on the Dorfman stage, featuring original music from Christopher Nightingale, Josh Cohen and DJ Walde.
The Authenticator is a new play by award-winning playwright Winsome Pinnock, marking the first time one of her plays has premiered at the National Theatre. A valuable discovery in a crumbling stately home reveals a family's complex past and sparks a quest to unearth the house's hidden secrets, directed by National Theatre Artistic Associate Miranda Cromwell.
Originally commissioned by Kiln Theatre, Samira by Carmen Nasr will mark Nasr’s National Theatre debut. Inspired by real events, the play explores themes of authenticity, political upheaval and identity, focusing on a young Syrian blogger who is not all that she seems.
Approaching 50 years since the death of writer Terence Rattigan, Man and Boy will be performed in the Dorfman theatre in 2026, with director Anthony Lau making his National Theatre debut, and Ben Daniels leading the cast in a gripping drama about power, deception, and the complex bond between a father and son.
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of groundbreaking immersive company Punchdrunk the National Theatre have commissioned a new piece of work which will be seen in the Dorfman in 2027.
Together, the overarching themes of the programme are of celebration and reinvention as we ask the question: in a rapidly changing world, what do we build on and what do we shake up?
As part of Indhu and Kate’s bold vision, the National Theatre is deepening its work with young people with an ambition to reach every schoolchild in the UK before they leave school, through establishing meaningful partnerships with valued collaborators across the UK and around the world, fostering innovation and championing the role of theatre in contemporary society. Key partnerships confirmed include the Unicorn Theatre (a new co-production of Piers Torday's The Last Wild, adapted by Jude Christian, touring to primary schools in 2027), and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Imperial War Museums (The Next Morning, a new film written by James Graham to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, set to be released nationwide on 8 May).
Speaking about the launch of her inaugural programme, Director and Co-Chief Executive of the National Theatre, Indhu Rubasingham, said:
“The National Theatre is a very special place at the heart of our national discourse, and I am incredibly proud to be its seventh Director. I am so excited about everything to come, and the wealth of projects and artists announced. The National Theatre is a beacon of creativity, humanity and possibilities. It holds the stories of so many people who have made this place mean so much to so many. This is just the beginning, a flavour of what's to come, the start of the next chapter.”
Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive of the National Theatre, Kate Varah, said:
“This next chapter for the National Theatre is a moment of excitement and promise which has collaboration at the centre of it all. Indhu’s artistic vision has attracted stellar artists, all poised to create unforgettable stories for audiences locally, nationally and globally. Our vision for the National Theatre is to offer the widest access to high quality theatre in the world, in theatres, cinemas, homes and schools. We are passionate about theatre and what theatre can do to transform lives. Our promise together is to champion theatre’s vital role in creating a thriving society and nurture it for the next generation.”
Tickets for Bacchae, Hamlet and The Playboy of the Western World will go on general sale from 15 May, with Ballet Shoes now on sale.
Further information and on sale dates for the rest of the programme are to be announced.