National Theatre New Season to June 2013 & Beyond

The National Theatre has announced its schedule to June 2013 and some productions coming later in the year.

Public booking opens 15 February for new productions & extensions to June in Olivier & Lyttelton , and 1 March for The Shed productions.

While the Cottesloe Theatre is being refurbished as part of the NT Future transformation project, re-opening in spring 2014 as the Dorfman Theatre, the NT is opening The Shed: a temporary performance space at the front of the building.

In the OLIVIER THEATRE

Coming later in the year: In June, James Baldwin's THE AMEN CORNER will be directed by Rufus Norris, with Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Sharon D Clarke leading the cast. In September, EDWARD II by Christopher Marlowe, starring John Heffernan will be directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins. In November, Bijan Sheibani will stage a new production of the classic children's adventure EMIL AND THE DETECTIVES by Erich Kästner, adapted by Carl Miller. Looking further ahead to January 2014, Sam Mendes will direct Simon Russell Beale in KING LEAR.

In the LYTTELTON THEATRE

Coming later in the year: In June, Simon Godwin directs STRANGE INTERLUDE by Eugene O'Neill; the cast will include Anne-Marie Duff, Charles Edwards. In August, Richard Eyre will direct LIOLA by Luigi Pirandello, in a new version by Tanya Ronder. In October, THE LIGHT PRINCESS, music and lyrics by Tori Amos, book and lyrics by Samuel Adamson, suggested by a story by George MacDonald, directed by Marianne Elliott. The cast will include Rosalie Craig, Clive Rowe.In November, Melly Still will direct FROM MORNING TO MIDNIGHT by Georg Kaiser, in a new version by Dennis Kelly.

In the THE SHED

TABLE
by Tanya Ronder. Opening 12 April 2013, following previews from 9 April, closing 18 May 2013. Directed by Rufus Norris, designed by Katrina Lindsay, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Rich Walsh. Cast includes Daniel Cerqueira, Rosalie Craig, Jonathan Cullen, Paul Hilton, Penny Layden, Sarah Niles, Michael Shaeffer, Maggie Service and Sophie Wu. Six generations, nine performers, thirty characters and one very special piece of furniture.

BULLET CATCH
written & performed by Rob Drummond.(An Arches, Glasgow production) From 21 May to 1 June 2013. Designed by Francis Gallop. 'A unique theatrical experience exploring the world of magic, featuring mind-reading, levitation and the most notorious finale in show business.'

MISSION DRIFT
Created by THE TEAM in collaboration with Heather Christian and Sarah Gancher. Opens 7 June 2013, following previews from 5 June, closes 28 June 2013. Directed by Rachel Chavkin , designed by Nick Vaughan, lighting by Jake Heindrichs, sound by Matt Dubbs. A pioneering journey in pursuit of the soul of American capitalism, told through atomic blasts, lizard ballet and original music that fuses Las Vegas glitz and Southern Blues.

Coming later in the year: In July, A project exploring sound devised by the electronic musician Matthew Herbert. In August, HOME, a verbatim theatre piece with music exploring social housing in London, devised and directed by Nadia Fall. In November, nut, a new play written and directed by debbie tucker green. In December, THE ELEPHANTOM, based on the book by Ross Collins, adapted by Ben Power, directed by Finn Caldwell, Marianne Elliott and Toby Olie. A play with puppets for young audiences. Also in December, a new play by Tim Price about the Occupy Movement, directed by Polly Findlay. In early 2014, a new play by Nick Payne, directed by Carrie Cracknell.

Productions Extending/Closing ....
This House (extends, now closes 16 May 2013)
People (extends, now closes 15 May 2013)

New Platforms
Unless stated: 6pm / Length 45 mins

Maxim Gorky: 'Bitter' Realist?
Thu 18 April, Lyttelton
Cynthia Marsh looks at Gorky's theatre work, including Children of the Sun, chiefly written during his brief imprisonment for revolutionary activity in 1905.

NT Future
Mon 22 April, Lyttelton
A chance to learn about the National's £70m redevelopment plans first-hand from the project's leaders: Nick Starr (NT Executive Director), Lisa Burger (NT Chief Operating Officer) and Paddy Dillon (Associate Director, Haworth Tompkins). Free, booking essential.

Nicholas Hytner on Othello
Thu 25 April, 5.45pm, Olivier
The director discusses his new production of Othello.

Peter Brook
Mon 29 April, Lyttelton
Peter Brook talks about his new book, The Quality of Mercy, a collection of essays reflecting his lifelong interest in interpreting Shakespeare's works for contemporary audiences.

Neil MacGregor
Thu 2 May, 5.45pm, Olivier
In Shakespeare's Restless World, the Director of the British Museum explores 20 objects - from the Salcombe treasure of Moroccan gold coins to the battered trunk of a probably fake pedlar - and weaves their histories into the words of the plays, to suggest where Shakespeare's ideas about religion, national identity, the history of England and the world may have originated.

Alan Bennett and Nicholas Hytner
Thu 9 May, Lyttelton
The writer and the director discuss their latest collaboration, People.

Othello on Screen
Fri 5 July, 5.45pm, Olivier
Daniel Rosenthal uses film clips to explore screen Othellos, from Olivier with the original text, to the Moor reinvented as US high-school basketball star.

The Captain of Köpenick In Context
Tue 5 March, 2 - 5pm John Lyon Education Studio (at the NT Studio, The Cut, SE1),
An in-depth introduction by Professor Sarah Colvin to Zuckmayer and the world of the play, followed by the Adrian Noble. Then Platform in the Olivier.

Children of the Sun In Context
Thu 18 April, 2 - 5pm John Lyon Education Studio (at the NT Studio, The Cut, SE1),
An in-depth exploration of Gorky productions at the National, followed by the Gorky Platform in the Lyttelton.