The National Theater is today announcing programming for the new season, which begins in August. A varied program that takes us to Australia, South Africa Ireland and more.
The twittosphere was lively this morning because the programming does not include any play written by a woman and only a woman directing. It's confusing because the National Theater has a real policy of equality and representation which seems not to have been enforced for this season. It's unfortunate not to feel represented on stage.
Here is the full season anyway:
Hansard, a new play by Simon Woods, will be directed by Simon Godwin at the Lyttelton Theater. The piece will be in previews from August 22 and will open on September 3.
Alex Jennings will play the role of Robin and Lindsay Duncan, that of his wife, Diana.
In 1988 Robin Hesketh was a Conservative politician, but there was water in the gas when he returned home to his idyllic Cotswold home.
The production of Translations returns to the National Theater, after its success last year. Brian Friel's play is directed by Ian Rickson. Ciarán Hinds will reprise the role of Hugh alongside Seamus O'Hara and Judith Roddy. The rest of the cast will be announced at a later date.
Owen, a prodigy son, returns to his rural village Donegal from Dublin. He is accompanied by two officers of the British Army. They plan to recreate a map of the surroundings, replacing all Gaelic names with English. An administrative act which will have radical consequences.
The full cast has been announced for Peter gynt by David Hare. James McArdle will play the title role, accompanied by Tamsin Carroll, Jonathan Coy, Anya Chalotra, Caroline Deyga, Lauren Ellis-Steele, Oliver Ford Davies, Andrew Fraser, Guy Henry, Dani Heron, Ryan Hunter, Ryan Hunter Joss, Lorne MacFadyen, Adam McNamara, Martin Quinn, Ann Louise Ross, Nabil Shaban and Jatinder Singh Randhawa.
Jellyfish by Ben Weatherill will be at the Dorfman Theater after his success at the Bush Theater. Sarah Gordy takes over the role of Kelly alongside Penny Layden and Nicky Priest. Jellyfish tells about the coming of age when you have Down syndrome in a seaside town. The play is directed by Tim Hoare.
At the Olivier Theater, the Sydney Theater Company Production of The Secret River will take place from August 22 to September 7. Kate Grenville's novel is adapted for the stage by Andrew Bovell and tells the story of two families divided by culture and land. The show debuts as part of the Edinburgh International Festival before arriving at the National Theater.
'Master Harold'… and the Boys by Athol Fugard will be directed by Roy Alexander Weise starting September 21, officially opening October 1. The play is set in apartheid South Africa in 1950, where Sam and Willie are training for the ballroom dancing championship final. Lucian Msamati stars alongside Hammed Animashaun, but no additional cast has been announced yet.
In July, Andy Stanton's book, Mr gum and the dancing bear, will open as a musical. Andy Standton adapts his own book to music by Jim Fortune. The show will be directed by Amy Hodge with sets and costumes by Georgia Lowe, musical direction by Tarek Merchant, choreography by Fleur Darkin, sound design by Carolyn Downing and puppets by Jimmy Grimes.