National Theatre announces 2016 season

Artistic Director of the National Theatre Rufus Norris has announced initial details of its 2016 season across all of its venues - the Olivier, Lyttelton, Dorfman and Temporary Theatres.

In the OLIVIER THEATRE

Yaël Farber will direct LES BLANCS by Lorraine Hansberry, in what will be the first £15 Travelex production of the year. Expected in March 2016, this will be the first play by Hansberry to be produced at the National Theatre, and will also be Yaël Farber's National Theatre debut.

This will be followed by a new production of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's THE THREEPENNY OPERA in a new translation by Simon Stephens which will open in May 2016. Directed by Rufus Norris, Rory Kinnear will return to the National in the lead role of 'Macheath'.

In the LYTTELTON THEATRE

The previously announced MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM by August Wilson will open on 2 February 2016, directed by Dominic Cooke. It will star Sharon D Clarke, O-T Fagbenle, Lucian Msamati and Giles Terera.

This will be followed by THE SUICIDE by Suhayla El-Bushra, which will open in April 2016, in a production directed by Nadia Fall and set in contemporary Britain.

From June 2016 Carrie Cracknell returns to the National to direct THE DEEP BLUE SEA by Terence Rattigan, alongside Howard Davies who will direct Sean O'Casey's THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS from July 2016.

In the DORFMAN THEATRE

Katie Mitchell will direct a new production of CLEANSED by Sarah Kane from February 2016, which will mark the first play by Sarah Kane at the venue.

Annie Baker's Pulitzer Prize-winning play THE FLICK directed by Sam Gold will open in April 2016. The play was originally produced in New York by Playwrights Horizons, followed by a transfer to Barrow Street Theatre, and is presented in association with Scott Rudin.

Alexi Kaye Campbell will makes his National Theatre debut with a new play, SUNSET AT THE VILLA THALIA which will be directed by Simon Godwin from May 2016.

In the TEMPORARY THEATRE

IPHIGENIA IN SPLOTT by Gary Owen runs from 27 January to 20 February 2016 presented by the Sherman Cymru, following runs in Cardiff and Edinburgh. It is directed by Rachel O'Riordan, and stars Sophie Melville as 'Effie'.

Graeae Theatre Company in co-production with Theatre Royal, Plymouth will present THE SOLID LIFE OF SUGAR WATER by Jack Thorne following a run at the Edinburgh Festival, which runs from 26 February to 19 March 2016. It will star Genevieve Barr and Arthur Hughes and be directed by Amit Sharma.

Islington Community Theatre will return with BRAINSTORM by Ned Glasier in March 2016.

Public booking for new productions will open on 22 October 2015.