Autumn 2003 brings one of the National's most ambitious projects: the
stage premiere of Philip Pullman's great epic His Dark Materials,
adapted into two plays by Nicholas Wright, and directed by Nicholas
Hytner. The production runs from December to March in the Olivier.
In the Lyttelton, NT Associate Helen Mirren leads the company in another
epic: Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra, directed by
NT Associate Director Howard Davies. It will play in repertoire with
Matthew Bourne's hugely acclaimed Play Without Words.
Jim Broadbent returns to the National in the premiere of Martin McDonagh's
The Pillowman, directed by John Crowley, which joins the Cottesloe
repertoire alongside Michael Frayn's Democracy.
Autumn also sees the culmination of the 2003 Travelex £10 Season,
with Richard Jones' production of Tales from the Vienna Woods.
Meanwhile, seasonal events such as Festival of Lights and Dazzle return,
with an array of exhibitions and platforms.
HIS DARK MATERIALS in the Olivier Theatre
Nicholas Hytner directs the world premiere of His Dark Materials
based on the novels by Philip Pullman, adapted by Nicholas Wright
into two big plays for a cast of more than 30. They preview in the
Olivier from 4th December, with press performances on 20th December.
The cast includes Dominic Cooper as Will, Anna Maxwell Martin as Lyra,
Samuel Barnett, John Carlisle, Cecilia Noble, Danny Sapani, Russell
Tovey and Ben Wright.
This will be an epic production both in its narrative scope and its
staging, involving artists from new technologies as well as old, and
aims to create an experience as meaningful for 12 year olds as for
adults. Parts I and II can be seen on separate dates, or on the same
day in a double-bill.
In The Art of Darkness: Staging the Philip Pullman Trilogy,
Robert Butler will follow those involved in this adventure over the
six months leading to the first performance. The book will be available
in early January 2004, published by NT Publications in association
with Oberon Books.
THE PILLOWMAN in the Cottesloe Theatre
John Crowley directs the world premiere of The Pillowman by
Martin McDonagh. The cast is Jim Broadbent, Adam Godley, Nigel Lindsay
and David Tennant. It previews in the Cottesloe from 7th November
with a press night on 13th November.
MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA in the Lyttelton Theatre
Howard Davies directs MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA by Eugene O'Neill,
opening in the Lyttelton Theatre on Thursday 27 November (following
previews from 17 November). Helen Mirren plays Christine Mannon and
Eve Best her daughter in O'Neill's epic, based on Aeschylus's Oresteia;
the cast also includes Paul Hilton and Sean McGinley.
PLAY WITHOUT WORDS
PLAY WITHOUT WORDS returns to the National following its hugely acclaimed
premiere during the 2002 Transformation season. Devised by Matthew
Bourne, with music by Terry Davies, Play Without Words is inspired
by Joseph Losey's film by special arrangement with StudioCanal, based
on The Servant by Robin Maugham. The production is a collaboration
between the National Theatre and New Adventures; it is designed by
Lez Brotherston, with choreography by Matthew Bourne and the Company,
original lighting by Paule Constable, music by Terry Davies and sound
by Christopher Shutt.
The cast (all of whom except one were in the original production)
is Scott Ambler, Sam Archer, Belinda Lee Chapman, Saranne Curtin,
Steve Kirkham, Michela Meazza, Eddie Nixon, Emily Piercy, Alan Vincent,
Valentina Formenti, Ewan Wardrop and Richard Winsor.
Play Without Words will tour the UK next spring.
THE TRAVELEX £10 SEASON - casting updates
The Travelex £10 Season continues until November in the Olivier
Theatre. Playing in repertoire are HIS GIRL FRIDAY (until 22 November);
EDMOND (until 4 October); and TALES FROM THE VIENNA WOODS (opening
on 14 October, in rep until 19 November).
More than two thirds of the tickets are just £10. The rest
are £25.
The company for TALES FROM THE VIENNA WOODS includes Helen Anderson-Lee,
Frances Barber (Valerie), Jane Bertish, Paul Birchard, Paul Chequer,
Judith Coke, Darrell D'Silva (Oskar), Joe Duttine (Alfred), Keiran
Flynn, Karl Johnson, Penelope McGhie, Doreen Mantle, Tom Marshall,
Amanda Perry-Smith, David Ross, Nicholas Sidi, Emma Stansfield and
Nicola Walker (Marianne).
