Cate Blanchett to make National Theatre debut in new Martin Crimp play

Two-time Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett will make her National Theatre debut in a new play by Martin Crimp in January 2019.

Directed by Katie Mitchell, Crimps play is titled When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other, explored the 'violent nature of desire' and the complicated gender roles of men and women. It is sub-titled: Twelve Variations on Samuel Richardson's Pamela.

Richardson's novel, published in 1790, tells the story of a 15-year-old servant called Pamela Andrews, whose master makes several inappropriate advances towards her following the death of her mother.

Blanchett, who won two Oscars for her roles in The Aviator (2005) and Blue Jasmine (2014), will star alongside Stephen Dillane, who is returning to the National for the first time in over 15 years.

On stage, Blanchett was nominated for a Tony Award on Broadway last year for her role in Chekhov's The Present, and in London, she has appeared in Plenty at the Albery Theatre, and Big and Small at the Barbican. It was rumoured that she was to star in a stage production of All About Eve in the West End, directed by Ivo van Hove.

Dillane is known for his role in the hit US TV series Game of Thrones as Stannis Baratheon. On stage, he appeared in Angels in America, Hamlet and Uncle Vanya in the '90s, and won a Tony Award for his role in a Broadway production of Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing in 2000. He last appeared at the National in The Coast of Utopia in 2002.

Director Mitchell, who last directed Cleansed at the National in 2006, said: "It's great to be working with Martin again on this powerful new text and to continue my special collaboration with Stephen Dillane. At the same time I'm delighted to welcome Cate Blanchett to the National, and look forward to developing a new working relationship with this extraordinary actor"

Full information, including dates, are set to be announced in the autumn.