The National Theatre has announced its programme for January to April
2005.
A Minute Too Late
Lyttelton Theatre
Previews from 20th January, opens 27th January, in repertoire until
26th February
Complicite return to the National with A Minute Too Late, devised
by the company and redirected by Simon McBurney, who appears with Jozef
Houben and Marcello Magni.
A Minute Too Late is a show about death. A comedy of mourning,
it was the second piece Complicite created, 21 years ago. The National
has invited Complicite to mark their anniversary by bringing this
legendary piece of vaudeville back to life for a limited season.
A Dream Play
By August Strindberg
Cottesloe Theatre
Previews from 4th February, opens 15th February, continuing in repertoire
In the first collaboration between the National Theatre and Tate
Modern, the work of the Swedish playwright, novelist and artist August
Strindberg will be celebrated with a staging of A Dream Play
in a new version by Caryl Churchill, directed by Katie Mitchell, to
coincide with an exhibition of his art at Tate Modern.
The cast includes Sean Jackson, Charlotte Roach, Dominic Rowan, Justin
Salinger, Susie Trayling and Angus Wright (all of whom were recently
seen in Katie Mitchell's productions of Three Sisters and/or Iphigenia
at Aulis at the National).
The exhibition 'August Strindberg' will be at Tate Modern from 17th
February - 15th May 2005.
The House of Bernarda Alba
By Federico García Lorca
Lyttelton Theatre
Previews from 5th March, opens 15th March, continuing in repertoire
Howard Davies directs The House of Bernarda Alba by Federico
García Lorca, in a new English version by David Hare, opening
in the Lyttelton Theatre on 15 March (following previews from 5 March).
Penelope Wilton returns to the National to play Bernarda Alba; the
rest of the cast is to be announced.
All Platforms start at 6pm (45 mins) and tickets cost £3·50/£2·50
unless otherwise stated
Craig Brown's Imaginary Friends
21 January, Cottesloe
Craig Brown, 'the greatest and cruellest parodist of our time', is
joined by Ian Hislop and some of his real friends to present his Imaginary
Friends - 'celebrity diaries' of the rich and famous which have satirised
and offended the likes of Martin Amis, Mary Archer, David Starkey
and Janet Street-Porter within the pages of Private Eye. (Followed
by book-signing).
The History Boys' Poetry Evening
11 February, Lyttelton
It's Poetry Evening for some of Hector's students as the History Boys
present a one-off recitation of their forays into the literary world,
their set text being Poetry in Motion - a personal selection
of some of the nation's most popular works by a certain Mr Bennett.
Playing Pullman
16 February 2.30pm, Olivier
Join some of the actors appearing in His Dark Materials to
find out more about their experiences of playing some of the most
popular characters in contemporary literature and the challenges of
bringing them to the stage.
The Dæmon Puppets
18 February 2.30pm, Olivier
A demonstration and discussion with members of the puppet team and
the company reveal how the production of His Dark Materials
brings Philip Pullman's dæmons, Gallivespians and angels to
life.
About A Minute Too Late
18 February 9.30pm, Lyttelton
A post-performance Platform on A Minute Too Late with Jozef
Houben, Simon McBurney and Marcello Magni.
Eivor Martinus on August Strindberg
24 February, Cottesloe
Strindberg biographer and translator Eivor Martinus talks about the
life and work of the enigmatic Swedish playwright and artist, and
how A Dream Play, which he described as 'the child of my greatest
pain', relates to his other work.
Strindberg's Chamber Plays
7 and 15 March, Cottesloe
Two short programmes of readings from Strindberg's Chamber Plays,
his short pieces catalogued by opus numbers as a homage to Beethoven.
The plays, which Strindberg wrote for the Intimate Theatre in Stockholm,
demonstrate his fascination with a 'world of delusions, guilt, suffering
and death.'
Philip Pullman and Nicholas Wright
23 March, Olivier
As the run of His Dark Materials comes to an end in the Olivier,
the writer Philip Pullman is joined by playwright Nicholas Wright
to reflect upon the experience of transferring the award-winning books
to the theatre. (Followed by book-signing).
Lorca: the playwright
7 April, Lyttelton
Beyond his fêted 'rural trilogy', Federico García Lorca's
plays delved into the realms of surrealism, puppetry and satire. This
platform will comprise readings of some of his lesser-known theatre
works.
Lorca: the poet
8 April, Lyttelton
As well as his role as a major figure in world drama, Lorca is hailed
as one of the most distinctive Spanish poetic voices since the Spanish
Golden Age. A reading of his poetry illustrates his extraordinary
fusion of Andalucian folklore with modernist sensibilities.
The History Boys' End of Term Revue
22 April, Lyttelton
As end of term approaches for The History Boys, join staff and students
as they let their hair down for the School Revue featuring songs,
jokes, satires and sketches.
