National Theatre - New Season & productions announced

The National Theatre has announced its new Season and productions and platforms.

Public booking opens 12 Oct 2010 for new shows.

New show in The Lyttelton Theatre...

New shows in The Cottesloe Theatre...

Productions extending booking period ....
Blood & Gifts now closing 14 Nov 2010.
Or You Could Kiss Me now closing 18 Nov 2010.
Fela! extended to 5 Jan 2011.
Hamlet extended to 9 Jan 2011.
Men Should Weep extended to 9 Jan 2011.
 

New Platforms....

Unless stated: 6pm / Length 45 mins / £3.50

William Gaskill
1 Nov, Cottesloe
A believer in the supremacy of the writer in theatre, William Gaskill shows how to bring the text of a play to life in Words into Action, drawing on his own extensive experience of directing at Olivier's National Theatre, the Royal Court in the 60s, and Joint Stock in the 70s and 80s. He is joined by Max Stafford-Clark.

Ralph Koltai
5 Nov, Cottesloe
The celebrated theatre designer talks about his work and his new NT exhibition of metal collages, in which he returns to his roots as a 3-dimensional artist.

Can We Talk About This?
8 Nov, 5.45pm (1hr), Cottesloe
Freedom of speech, multiculturalism, religion and offence; this debate will feed into the research and development for a new work by DV8 Physical Theatre.

David Bradley in On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco/Can Cause Death by Anton Chekhov (trans. Carol Rocamora) and Alison Carr
11 Nov, Cottesloe
Tired husband and enthusiastic smoker Nyukhin delivers a lecture on the evils of smoking, but is it really that simple? Carr's revealing portrait of Nyukhin's wife accompanies Chekhov's comic monologue. David Bradley plays both man and wife. Directed by Charlotte Bennett and designed by Fabrice Serafino for Forward Theatre Project.

Jo Brand
17 Nov, Lyttelton
The Queen of Comedy reflects on motherhood, life on the comedy circuit and what she really thinks about Gordon Brown in Can't Stand Up For Sitting Down.

Maureen Lipman
6 Dec 5.30pm, Cottesloe
Actress and author Maureen Lipman, and her special guests, present a selection from I Must Collect Myself, her sharp and enjoyable observations on everyday life.

The Cranford Companions
8 Dec 5.30pm, Cottesloe
Sue Birtwistle is the producer of the BBC's award-winning Cranford series. She is joined by cast members to celebrate The Cranford Companion, a behind-the-scenes look at the dramatisation and the experience for the actors living in this 1840s world.

Judi Dench
9 Dec, Lyttelton Judi Dench's career spans over fifty years, from Juliet at the Old Vic to Titania at the Rose, via films and TV, awards and accolades. She talks to John Miller as her new book And Furthermore, is published.

An Evening with Private Eye
13 Dec 5.45pm (1hr), Lyttelton £5/£4
Private Eye's Ian Hislop makes his annual appearance at the National to take a satirical look at the events and people of 2010. With special guests Katy Brand, Craig Brown, Harry Enfield, Lewis MacLeod, and John Sessions.

The Best Christmas Present in the World with Michael Morpurgo and Coope, Boyes & Simpson
20 Dec 5.30pm (1hr 15mins), Lyttelton £5/£4
1914: the famous Christmas Truce and Anglo-German football match in No-Man's Land. A century later: a soldier's letter is found in an antique desk. Michael Morpurgo tells his moving story, accompanied by a capella carols from Coope, Boyes & Simpson. Followed by a signing of Morpurgo's Christmas titles only.

Theatre Quiz
21 Dec, Lyttelton
Emma Freud takes charge of two rival National Theatre companies as they do battle over theatrical knowledge in the annual quiz.

Peter Hall on Twelfth Night
21 Jan, Cottesloe
To mark his 80th birthday, the director discusses his career and his latest production.

Shakespeare on Screen: Hamlet and Twelfth Night
27 Jan, Cottesloe
Shakespeare has inspired some unforgettable screen moments. Using clips from Hamlet and Twelfth Night films by Olivier, Branagh and Nunn, and some genre adaptations, Daniel Rosenthal explores the rich variety of Shakespearean cinema.

Rewriting the Nation
7 Feb, Cottesloe
Aleks Sierz is joined by Sebastian Born, Ruth Little and Ben Power; this collection of literary managers and dramaturgs discuss the latest trends in new writing, examined in Sierz's book, Rewriting the Nation.