Nikki Amuka-Bird, David Harewood, Toby Stephens, et al. Set for National Theatre’s Summer Season
The National Theatre has announced casting for its previously reported late spring and summer season.
Nikki Amuka-Bird and David Harewood will star in Moira Buffini’s Welcome to Thebes, which begins performances on June 15 before an official opening on June 22. The play, which modernizes the Greek myth about the first democratically elected president of Thebes, will be directed by Richard Eyre and also feature Madeline Appiah, Rakie Ayola, Omar Brown, Jessie Burton, Jacqueline Defferary, Daniel Fine, Karlina Grace, Rene Gray, Tracy Ifeachor, Irma Inniss, Chuk Iwuji, Alexia Khadime, Ferdinand Kingsley, Aicha Kossoko, Simon Manyonda, Bruce Myers, Pamela Nomvete, Calre Perkins, Victor Power, Daniel Poyser, Joy Richardson, Vinette Robinson, Zara Tempest-Walters, and Michael Wildman.
The production will be designed by Tim Hatley, with lighting by Neil Austin, music by Stephen Warbeck, choreography by Scarlett Mackmin, and sound by Rich Walsh.
Toby Stephens will play the title role in Howard Brenton’s new version of Georg Büchner’s Danton’s Death, directed by Michael Grandage. The production, which begins previews on July 15 in anticipation of an official opening on July 22, also features Elliot Levey (Robespierre), Barnaby Kay (Camille), and Alec Newman (St Just), as well as Max Bennett, Stefano Braschi, Kirsty Bushell, Jason Cheater, Judith Coke, Emmanuella Cole, Ilan Goodman, Taylor James, Gwilym Lee, Eleanor Matsuura, Elizabeth Nestor, Chu Omambala, Rebecca O’Mara, Rebecca Scroggs, Jonathan Warde, and Ashley Zhangazha.
The creative team will include Christopher Oram (production design), Paule Constable (lighting design), and Adam Cork (original music and sound design).
Mike Bartlett’s Earthquakes in London, which will begin previews on July 28 before an opening on August 4, focuses on three sisters who attempt to navigate their dislocated lives and loves, while their dysfunctional father, a brilliant scientist, predicts disaster. Rupert Goold will direct a company that features Anna Madeley, Bill Paterson, Jessica Raine, Geoffrey Streatfeild and Lia Williams. The production will have set designs by Miriam Buether, costume designs by Katrina Lindsay, lighting by Howard Harrison, choreography by Scott Ambler, projection designs by Jon Driscoll and sound by Gregory Clarke.
In addition to this casting news, the National has announced that Alan Bennett’s The Habit ofArt will return to the Lyttleton on July 14, prior to launching a U.K. tour. The return engagement of the play and tour will star Desmont Barritt and Malcolm Sinclair as WH Auden and Benjamin Britten, respectively. After the run at the National, the production will play engagements at Birmingham Rep Theatre (September 28 -October 2), The Lowry, Salford (October 5 – 9), Venue Cymru, Llandudno (October12 – 16), Milton Keynes Theatre (October 19 – 23), The Grand Opera House, Belfast Festival (October 26 – 30), Theatre Royal, Nottingham (November 2 – 6), Leeds Grand Theatre (November 9 – 13), Theatre Royal, Newcastle (November 16 – 20), and Theatre Royal, Glasgow (November 23 – 27).
For further information, visit: www.nationaltheatre.co.uk.
