NATIONAL ANNOUNCE NEW SEASON 2002

NATIONAL ANNOUNCE NEW SEASON

The Royal National Theatre has announced new schedule covering 11th March 02 to 8th June 02 :

**Public booking opens in the week beginning Monday 28th Jan if booking by post or fax, public booking opens 18th Feb 02 if booking by phone, in person, or through agencies**

Opening in this period......

The world premiere of Vincent In Brixton by Nicholas Wright, opens at the Cottesloe on 1st May 02, following previews from from 24th April 02. The production is directed by Richard Eyre, designed by Tim Hatley, with music by Dominic Muldowney and lighting by Peter Mumford. The cast is Emily Blunt, Emma Handy, Clare Higgins, Paul Nicholls and Jochum ten Haaf.

Nicholas Wright's new play, based on the true facts of Vincent van Gogh's early life in London, is about the transforming effect of love, sex and artistic adventure on unformed talent, and traces the birth of genius. Brixton, 1873. A brash young Dutchman, working for the London branch of an international firm of art-dealers, rents a room in the house of an English widow. Three years later, he returns to Europe on the first step of a journey which will end in breakdown, death and immortality.

Clare Higgins has appeared in many National productions, including "The Secret Rapture", "King Lear", "Richard II", "The Absence of War", "Sweet Bird of Youth" (for which she won the Olivier and Critics' Circle Best Actress awards) and "The Walls"; her other theatre credits include " A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Hamlet" and "Antony and Cleopatra" for the RSC, "The Ride Down Mount Morgan" and "Letter of Resignation" in the West End.

Bacchai by Euripides, in a new version by Colin Teevan, opens at the Olivier Theatre on 17th May 02 following previews from 8th May 02, and closes 9th June 02 The production is directed by Peter Hall with music by Harrison Birtwistle, designs by Alison Chitty, lighting by Peter Mumford and movement by Marie-Gabrielle Rotie. The cast includes Lee Haven-Jones, Greg Hicks, William Houston, Chuk Iwuji, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Renzo Murrone, Stefani Pleasence, Margaret Preece, Marie-Gabrielle Rotie, David Ryall, Rachel Sanders, Geoffrey Streatfeild and Clare Swinburne.

Written in the 5th century BC, Bacchai is described by Peter Hall as 'a short sharp play, and one of the most challenging ever written. Whenever it is performed, it appears hideously timely. Man's quest for faith comes from an impulse bred of terror and of hope... The play deals with extremes: faith is opposed by instinct, reason by emotion, male by female, chaos by order, West by East and life by death.'

The 2002 Shakespeare Unplugged tour of Measure For Measure will be at the Cottesloe for four performances only from 8th to 10th April 02, as part of its nationwide tour of schools and community venues. Directed by Jonathan Petherbridge (Artistic Director of London Bubble Theatre), this performance and workshop project is produced by NT Education in collaboration with The London Bubble Theatre Company. The cast is Charles Abomeli, Anna Darvas, Katarina Olsson, Saskia Portway, Suzann McLean, Peter Nicholas, Mark Theodore and Anthony Washington.

A disturbing tale of suspense, dark comedy and corruption, Measure For Measure explores sexuality, morality and the law, exposing the abuse of authority in high places and the seething underworld of Vienna. Presented in an interactive, promenade style that strips away the barriers between actor and audience, each performance (a 100-minute version of the play) is preceded by an introductory event that explores the relationship between actor and audience.

Current productions Closing in this period
Syringa Tree,(Cottesloe, 3rd Apr 02)
No Man's Land,(Lyttelton, 10th Apr 02)
Tartuffe,(Lyttelton, 20th Apr 02)
South Pacific,(Olivier, 27th Apr 02)

Transformation
The TRANSFORMATION of the Lyttelton Theatre is approaching: a five month season from April 02 to Sep 02 presenting thirteen world premieres in two new theatres, one transformed and one entirely new. The National's most traditional auditorium, the Lyttelton, will be transformed by a sweep of seats from circle to stage, creating a new intimacy between actor and audience. It will be home to five contemporary pieces of work by leading theatre innovators. The Lyttelton Loft will be a wholly new 100-seat theatre, a flexible space for eight new plays by eight young writers. Further details of the season will be published in mid-March.