Review: The Plough and the Stars at the National Theatre

The Plough and the Stars

National Theatre (Lyttleton)
Review on Thursday 18th August 2016
★★★★

The National Theatre love reviving an epic, and Sean O'Casey's powerful classic The Plough and the Stars has definitely benefited from the magic of the Lyttleton stage.

Review: Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour at the National Theatre

Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour 

National Theatre (Dorfman)

Reviewed on Tuesday 16th August 2016

★★★★★

Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour comes bursting in to the National Theatre after its celebrated debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2015. Based on the novel by The Sopranos by Alan Warner, it tells the story of six good Catholic school girls, whose road-trip to a choir competition proves to be more eventful than they ever imagined.

Review: The Deep Blue Sea at the National Theatre

The Deep Blue Sea 

National Theatre (Lyttelton)

Reviewed on Monday 11th June 2016

★★★★★

After their critical success with Medea in 2014, director Carrie Cracknell reunites with Helen McCrory to revive Terence Rattigan's devastating masterpiece The Deep Blue Sea.

Further casting announced for National Theatre's Angels in America

The National Theatre has confirmed further casting for Angels in America.

As previously announced, the show will star Andrew Garfield, Denise Gough and Russell Tovey. Joining them are Susan Brown, Nathan Lane, James McArdle and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett.

The revival of Tony Kushner's play will be directed by Marianne Elliott (Curious Incident/War Horse) and will open at the Lyttelton Theatre in May 2017. 

Review: Sunset at the Villa Thalia at the National Theatre

Sunset at the Villa Thalia

National Theatre (Dorfman)
Reviewed on Thursday 9th June 2016
★★★

Playwright Alexi Kaye Campbell, known for his devastatingly good play The Pride (Royal Court, Trafalgar Studios) makes his National Theatre debut with Sunset At The Villa Thalia - a sweet gem set in Greece.

Review: The Suicide at the National Theatre

The Suicide 

National Theatre (Lyttleton)

Reviewed on Thursday 12th May (matinee)

★★★

A play titled The Suicide doesn't exactly appeal straight away, but when you notice the tag line, 'A comedy', you can't help but be intrigued.

Nikolai Erdman's classic Russian text has been given a modern multicultural makeover by Suhayla El-Bushra, swapping the traditional for kebabs and Tinder references - it's certainly bold.

Review: The Flick at the National Theatre

The Flick

National Theatre (Dorfman)
Reviewed on Thursday 28th April 2016
★★★★★

Theatre can be a bold, bright attack of the senses. It can also be a still, reflective creation that can leave you wondering long into the night.

Review: Another World at the National Theatre (Temporary Space)

Another World: Losing Our Children to Islamic State

National Theatre (Temporary Space)

Reviewed on Monday 25th April 2016
★★★★

You can’t turn the news on without seeing footage from some extremist group in the Middle East. Over the past few years, the rise in terrorist organisations such as ISIS, has been the hot topic of conversation. Who are these people? And how do they seduce British teenagers into joining their revolution? Playwright Gillian Slovo interviewed a number of people, from parents of those new recruits, to school children, lawyers and reverends, and the results is 95 minutes of harrowing and eye-opening theatre.

Review: Les Blancs at the National Theatre

Les Blancs 

National Theatre (Olivier)

Reviewed on Thursday 14th April 2016 (matinee)

★★★★

The National comes up trumps with its production of a never seen before Lorraine Hansberry epic - 'Les Blancs' (The Whites). The playwright, best known for her classic 'A Raisin in the Sun', passed away aged 34 before ever completing this piece, but told of her desire for the play to one day be finished and performed. Step forward Robert Nemiroff who has adapted the text and left it in the very capable hands of director Yaël Ferber to give Hansberry's second masterpiece the life it deserves.

Denise Gough & Russell Tovey join Andrew Garfield in National Theatre's Angels in America

Fresh from winning an Olivier Award for her performance in People, Places and Things, the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye has announced that Denise Gough will play Harper in Angels in America at the National Theatre.

The production is set to open on 20th April 2017. Bamigboye has also revealed that Russell Tovey will play Joe Pitt alongside the previously announced Andrew Garfield as Prior Walter. Marianne Elliott directs. 

Relaxed performance announced for wonder.land

The National Theatre have announced that a relaxed performance of wonder.land will take place on 21st April at 7pm in the Olivier Theatre.

Specifically designed to welcome people with a learning disability, Down’s Syndrome, autism or sensory and communication disorders into the theatre, relaxed performances give those who otherwise might feel excluded the chance to experience live performance. 

Relaxed performances have a less formal, more supportive atmosphere in order to reduce anxiety levels. There is a relaxed attitude to audience noise and movement and some small changes made to the light and sound effects. Parts of the theatre foyer will be available as a quiet space for those who need to leave and re-enter the auditorium during the show. 

People, Places & Things extends West End run

Duncan Macmillan’s new play People, Places & Things has extended its West End run at the Wyndham’s Theatre. 

The production will play an additional two weeks and is now booking to 18th June 2016.

Directed by Jeremy Herrin, People, Places & Things opens on 23rd March (previews from 15th March). The show transfers to the West End following its sell out season at the National's Dorfman Theatre last year. 

The cast is led by Denise Gough who stars alongside Jacob James Beswick, Nari Blair-Mangat, Alistair Cope, Jacqui Dubois, Charlotte Gascoyne,Sally George, Kevin McMonagle, Nathaniel Martello-White, Barbara Marten, David Rubin and Laura Woodward.

Review: wonder.land at the National Theatre

wonder.land 

National Theatre (Olivier)

Reviewed on Wednesday 16th December 2015

★★★

Set in an avatar obsessed world, wonder.land is a modern day coming-of-age story delving into the differentiation between our online and offline lives.

Lois Chimimba stars as Aly who finds escapism from school bullies and family drama in an online world entitled wonder.land. The piece is strikingly relevant; I don't think a lot of people truly understand the level of stress technology puts upon younger people. 'Back in the day' you could avoid bullies by fleeing home to your parents after the school bell had rung, but in 2015 there's no escaping thanks to the virtual world which, accessible at the click of a button, can be a very dark place.

UPDATED: National Theatre's People, Places And Things transferring to the West End

It has been confirmed that Duncan Macmillan’s play People, Places And Things will transfer to the West End following its sold out run at the National's Dorfman Theatre.

Denise Gough is set to reprise her acclaimed performance, with further casting to be announced.

People, Places And Things will open at the Wyndham’s Theatre on 23rd March 2016 (previews from 15th March) following Hangman's West End run. Directed by Jeremy Herrin, People, Places And Things continues at the National Theatre until 4th November 2015.

Carly Bawden to star as Alice in wonder.land at the National Theatre

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye has revealed that Carly Bawden has been cast as Alice in wonder.land - a new musical inspired by Lewis Carroll’s iconic Alice in Wonderland - at the National Theatre. 

Bawden takes over from Rosalie Craig who starred in the show's Manchester run.

wonder.land is by Damon Albarn with book and lyrics by Moira Buffini. The production, which is directed by Rufus Norris, runs at the National from 27th November 2015 and is currently booking until 31st January 2016.

Rosalie Craig replaces Andrea Riseborough in As You Like It at the National Theatre

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye has revealed casting for the National Theatre's revival of As You Like It which opens in November.

Rosalie Craig (The Light Princess/City Of Angels) will star as Rosalind, replacing the previously announced Andrea Riseborough who has withdrawn for personal reasons. As previously confirmed, Craig will star in woner.land in Manchester; however, she won't transfer with the musical which it transfers to the National.

Full casting announced for wonder.land starring Rosalie Craig

Casting has been announced for the Manchester International Festival's run of wonder.land, a new musical inspired by Lewis Carroll’s iconic Alice in Wonderland. 

Music is by Damon Albarn with book and lyrics by Moira Buffini. The production is directed by the National Theatre's Rufus Norris.

The MIF cast will include Sam Archer, Lois Chimimba, Rob Compton, Rosalie Craig (pictured right), Ivan De Freitas, Luke Fetherston, Hal Fowler, Anna Francolini, Lorraine Graham, Paul Hilton, Karina Hind, Holly James, Sam Mackay, Daisy Maywood, Enyi Okoronkwo, David Page, Golda Rosheuvel, Cydney Uffindell-Phillips and Witney White.

wonder.land is a Manchester International Festival/National Theatre co-production. Commissioned by Manchester International Festival, National Theatre and the Théâtre du Châtelet.

Watch the trailer for London Road

Following two sell-out runs at the National Theatre, London Road has been adapted for the screen. It is released in cinemas on 12th June 2015. Watch the trailer below.

The feature film unites the original creative team - the script is by Alecky Blythe with music by Adam Cork and direction from Rufus Norris.  The cast includes Olivia Colman, Anita Dobson, Kate Fleetwood, Rosalie Craig, Alexia Khadime and Tom Hardy.

Sharon D. Clarke & Giles Terera to star in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the National Theatre

According to the Daily Mail, Sharon D. Clarke and Giles Terera will star in a revival of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the National Theatre in January 2016. Dominic Cooke will direct the play which originally opened at the National in 1989. 

Last year Sharon D. Clarke won her first Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Amen Corner at the National. Her credits include: Nurse in Romeo and Juliet (Rose Kingston), Killer Queen in We Will Rock You (Dominion), Oda Mae Brown in Ghost (Piccadilly) and Porgy and Bess (Regents Park Open Air).

Curious Incident extends West End booking to May 2015

The National Theatre's production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has extended its West End booking period at the Gielgud Theatre to 23rd May 2015. Over 100,000 new tickets are now on sale for the booking period.

Winner of seven Olivier Awards including 'Best New Play' and having now been seen on stage by over 400,000 people, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is based on Mark Haddon’s award-winning novel, adapted by Simon Stephens and directed by Marianne Elliott.