The National Theatre has announced its programme for the period from
June to October:
Playing with Fire
By David Edgar
The last play in the current Travelex £10 Season in the Olivier
Theatre
Previews from 12th September, opening 21st September, in repertoire
until 22nd October
D directed by Michael Attenborough, with lighting by Mark Henderson;
the cast is to be announced.
We used to be a place'd sometimes get to the semi-finals of the
FA Cup. Now, I mean like for a laugh like, we pick up the phone and
say "Good evening, Beirut Hilton".
When the District Council of Wyverdale fails to satisfy a government
audit, New Labour high-flyer Alex is sent north from London to formulate
a robust recovery plan. But websites, faith festivals and council
leaflets in Bengali seem beside the point to the Labour old guard,
struggling to provide the basics to an alienated and divided electorate.
What begins as a metro-versus-retro comedy of misunderstanding soon
becomes a chilling drama about multicultural Britain. Populist politicians
play the race card, racial tensions grow and good intentions have
fatal consequences.
Aristocrats
By Brian Friel
Lyttelton Theatre
Previews from 2nd July, opens 12th July, in repertoire until October
Directed by Tom Cairns The cast includes Dervla Kirwan, Peter McDonald,
Gina McKee and Andrew Scott.
When I think of Ballybeg Hall it's always like this: the sun shining;
the doors and windows all open; the place filled with music.
A family gathers for a wedding at the ancestral home in County Donegal,
its crumbling edifice testimony to an opulent way of life that's all
but finished. As the accusations and demands of their dying father
ring out, his wayward, volatile offspring find consolation in reinventing
wild and bohemian stories of the big house in its heyday.
The President of an Empty Room
By Steven Knight
Cottesloe Theatre
Previews from 17th June, opens 28th June, in repertoire until 27th
August
Directed by Howard Davies and designed by Bunny Christie, with lighting
by Mark Henderson and music by Paddy Cunneen.
Cast: Georgina Ackerman, Jim Carter, Nona Dumezweni, Paul Hilton,
Fraser James, Inika Leigh Wright, Petra Letang, Stephen Moore, Lucian
Msamati, Anthony O'Donnell and Tracey Saunders.
And Cuba will become America and those little girls at the back
will eventually become Madonna and Michael Jackson and the tough boys
in the storeroom will become Hell's Angels with real bikes. Simon,
do you like my republic?
Amid the vibrant, spirited community of a Cuban cigar factory, the
senior roller proclaims a democracy and work goes to hell. There's
Flamenco dancing, bursts of opera, quarrels, reconciliations, revelations
and a bungled sexual encounter; but Miguel has lost his sweetheart
to America, there's a storm in Havana, and tobacco is the last thing
on his mind.
