The National Theatre’s new season stars Hiran Abeysekera, Monica Barbaro, Nicola Coughlan, Ben Daniels, Éanna Hardwicke, Lesley Manville, James McArdle, Siobhán McSweeney, Paul Mescal, Clare Perkins, Marty Rea, Ukweli Roach, Aidan Turner, Letitia Wright
Shows include Bacchae, Ballet Shoes, Cloud 9, Death of a Salesman, Hamlet, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Man and Boy, PRIDE, Samira, The Authenticator, The Jungle Book, The Playboy of the Western World, The Story, A Whistle in the Dark
Directors include Dominic Cooke, Miranda Cromwell, Clint Dyer, Marianne Elliott, Rebecca Frecknall, Robert Hastie, Anthony Lau, Caitríona McLaughlin, Indhu Rubasingham, Katy Rudd, Matthew Warchus
Writers include Stephen Beresford, Anupama Chandrasekhar, Caryl Churchill, Josh Cohen, Christopher Hampton, Kendall Feaver, Arthur Miller, Tom Murphy, Carmen Nasr, Christopher Nightingale, Winsome Pinnock, Terence Rattigan, John Millington Synge, Nima Taleghani, Tracey Scott Wilson
The National Theatre in London has announced its new 2025 to 2026 season, the first season of its new Artistic Director and Co-CEO Indhu Rubasingham.
The announcement also includes some productions for 2027.
Formerly artistic director of the Kiln Theatre, Indhu Rubasingham replaces Rufus Norris, who announced in June last year that he planned to depart the National in 2025 after a 10 year tenure.
Highlights of her first season at the National Theatre include:
- Indhu Rubasingham to direct Bacchae (Olivier Theatre, 13 September – 1 November 2025), by Nima Taleghani, the first ever playwriting debut on the National Theatre’s Olivier stage, starring James McArdle, Clare Perkins and Ukweli Roach. The show is choreographed by Kate Prince, with an original score by DJ Walde (Read more)
- Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) stars in Hamlet (Lyttelton Theatre, 25 September – 22 November 2025), in a new production directed by Robert Hastie (Read more)
- As already announced, this Christmas will see the return of Ballet Shoes (Olivier Theatre, 17 November 2025 – 21 February 2026), directed by Katy Rudd
- Nicola Coughlan, Éanna Hardwicke, Siobhán McSweeney and Marty Rea to star in John Millington Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World (Lyttelton Theatre , 4 December 2025 – 28 February 2026), directed by Caitríona McLaughlin (Read more)
The new season will also feature the following productions in 2026 and 2027, with dates to be confirmed:
- Indhu Rubasingham to direct a new adaptation of The Jungle Book (Olivier Theatre) for Christmas 2026, adapted by Anupama Chandrasekhar, puppetry by Finn Caldwell and Nick Barnes
- In 2027, award-winning actor Paul Mescal to make his National Theatre debut leading a company of actors as part of a repertory season in two complementary plays in the Lyttelton Theatre: Tom Murphy’s A Whistle in the Dark in a co-production with the Abbey Theatre and directed by Caitríona McLaughlin; and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, directed by Rebecca Frecknall (Read more)
- A second pair of productions, to run in repertory in the Lyttelton, will be announced at a later date
- Letitia Wright makes her National Theatre debut in Tracey Scott Wilson’s The Story (Olivier Theatre), directed by Clint Dyer
- Marianne Elliott directs a major revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Lyttelton Theatre), starring Monica Barbaro, Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner (Read more)
- A revival of Caryl Churchill’s acclaimed play Cloud 9 (Lyttelton Theatre), directed by Dominic Cooke
- Stormzy: A new collaboration with multi–Brit Award-winning artist Stormzy on a world premiere production to be staged at the National Theatre (Read more)
- PRIDE (Dorfman Theatre), a brand-new musical based on the award-winning film, with Matthew Warchus returning to the project to direct, and the film’s writer Stephen Beresford contributing the show’s book and lyrics. Original music will be by Christopher Nightingale, Josh Cohen and DJ Walde (Read more)
- Ben Daniels to star in a new production of Terence Rattigan’s Man and Boy (Dorfman Theatre), marking 50 years since Rattigan’s death, directed by Anthony Lau
- New play The Authenticator (Dorfman Theatre) by award-winning playwright Winsome Pinnock, directed by Miranda Cromwell
- Samira (Dorfman Theatre) by Carmen Nasr, originally commissioned by the Kiln Theatre, inspired by real events about a young Syrian blogger who is not all she seems
- A new commission by Punchdrunk for the Dorfman Theatre in 2027, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the groundbreaking immersive company
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 today. 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.”
It was announced last week that the National’s new Artistic Associates are director and choreographer Miranda Cromwell; author, academic, and dramaturg Dr Sophie Duncan; and Pulitzer-winning playwright Lynn Nottage. Clint Dyer, who was previously Deputy Artistic Director, will continue working with the National Theatre as an Associate Artist. The National’s Deputy Artistic Director is now former Sheffield Theatres artistic director Robert Hastie, who was announced last July.
Currently playing at the National Theatre is James Graham’s Dear England (until 24 May 2025), and final Stephen Sondheim musical Here We Are (until 28 June 2025).
Forthcoming shows programmed under Rufus Norris include Inter Alia starring Rosamund Pike; London Road starring Linzi Hateley, Clare Burt and Claire Moore; End starring Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves; Nye starring Michael Sheen; The Estate starring Adeel Akhtar; and The Land of the Living starring Juliet Stevenson.
Coming to the West End this year is the National’s acclaimed production of Till the Stars Come Down, playing the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 1 July 2025. On tour, the National Theatre has productions of War Horse, and An Inspector Calls.
Currently playing in the West End is the National’s co-production of Hadestown.
The National Theatre, London
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