Ben Daniels will lead the cast of Man and Boy at the National Theatre in 2026, as part of a major new season unveiled by incoming artistic director Indhu Rubasingham.
The Terence Rattigan drama, staged in the Dorfman Theatre, marks a powerful opening chapter in Rubasingham’s tenure, with 16 productions announced across the year.
Directed by Anthony Lau in his National Theatre debut, Man and Boy is a taut psychological drama exploring power, deceit and the fraught relationship between a father and his estranged son. Daniels plays Gregor Antonescu, a charismatic yet morally bankrupt financier whose business empire is on the brink of collapse. Seeking refuge in his son’s modest New York apartment, Antonescu manipulates those around him in a last-ditch attempt to save his reputation—at any cost.
Set against the backdrop of 1930s financial scandals and written in the early 1960s, Man and Boy remains chillingly resonant in its dissection of capitalism, corruption and emotional abandonment. Rattigan’s unflinching critique of patriarchal authority and personal ambition makes this revival especially timely as we near the 50th anniversary of the playwright’s death in 1977.
In staging Man and Boy in the Dorfman Theatre, Rubasingham’s programming underscores her intention to re-examine canonical texts through a contemporary lens, with Lau—best known for his acclaimed revivals of The Good Person of Szechwan (Lyric Hammersmith), The Crucible & Miss Saigon (Sheffield Theatre) —offering a fresh perspective on one of Rattigan’s darker, lesser-known plays.
Daniels, known to screen audiences for major roles in TV series The Exorcist, House of Cards, Law & Order: UK and Amazon’s The Rings of Power, is a celebrated stage actor. He recently starred in Doubt: A Parable opposite Maxine Peake (photos) at Theatre Royal Bath, and in Medea in the West End alongside Sophie Okonedo (reviews). His previous National Theatre credits include The Normal Heart and All My Sons.
Further casting and performance dates for Man and Boy at the National Theatre will be announced in due course.
Alongside Man and Boy, the National Theatre continues a strong 2025 season. Currently playing on the South Bank are James Graham’s Dear England (until 24 May 2025) and Stephen Sondheim’s final musical Here We Are (until 28 June 2025).
Further productions programmed under outgoing Artistic Director Rufus Norris include:
- Inter Alia starring Rosamund Pike
- London Road with Linzi Hateley, Clare Burt, and Claire Moore
- End starring Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves
- Nye starring Michael Sheen
- The Estate featuring Adeel Akhtar
- The Land of the Living with Juliet Stevenson
In the West End, the National Theatre’s acclaimed production of Till the Stars Come Down transfers to the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 1 July 2025, following its successful premiere at the Dorfman.
Touring productions include War Horse and An Inspector Calls, while in the West End, the National’s co-production of the Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown continues its run.
More about Man and Boy at the National Theatre, London
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