Rosalie Craig to star in ‘Hex’, as further details for National Theatre season revealed

The National Theatre will also increase seating capacity later this month.

Following the National Theatre's reopening season announcement last month, further details have been confirmed for upcoming shows. As part of the season, Rosalie Craig and Michael Elcock will star in new Sleeping Beauty musical Hex, as well as updated casting for The Normal Heart and Manor.

The National Theatre has also confirmed that they will be returning to full capacity audiences in July. Additional seating for After Life, Rockets and Blue Lights and Paradise will be created to allow a higher audience capacity. 

The full cast has been named for The Normal Heart revival, its first London staging in 35 years. Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart is inspired by real-life events, detailing the impact of the AIDS crisis in 1980s New York. Ben Daniels will play Ned Weeks, joined by Dino Fetscher as Felix, Robert Bowman, Richard Cant, Liz Carr, Daniel Krikler, Daniel Monks, Elander Moore, Luke Norris, Henry Nott, Freddie Stabb and Danny Lee Wynter.

Scenic design is by Vicki Mortimer, with costume design by Lisa Duncan, lighting design by Paule Constable, sound design by Carolyn Downing and fight direction by Bret Yount. The Normal Heart is in the Olivier Theatre from 23 September - 6 November, with a press night on 30 September.

Casting for the world premiere of Hex, a new Sleeping Beauty-inspired musical has also been revealed. Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Carroll, Kat Ronney and Michael Elcock lead the company, alongside Esme Bacalla-Hayes, Madeline Charlemagne, Tamsin Dowsett, Eleanor Kane and Daisy Maywood.

Hexwill follow Katrina Lindsay's 2002 adaptation of Sleeping Beauty and will "go beyond the kiss that woke the Sleeping Beauty." Hex features a book by Tanya Ronder, music by Jim Fortune and lyrics and direction by Rufus Norris. 

Choreography is by Jade Hackett with consultant choreography by Bill Deamer, sound design by Simon Baker and lighting design by Paul Anderson. Hex is in the Olivier Theatre from 4 December - 22 January, with a press night on 15 December.

The Lyttelton Theatre will reopen in October with a revival of Ayub Khan Din's East is East, transferring from Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Iqbal Khan directs the 1970s drama, following the Khan family as they battle their Pakistani identity with their British values. Casting is to be announced, however the East is East creative team includes set design by Bretta Gerecke and costume design by Susan Kulkarni. East is East in the Lyttelton Theatre from 7 - 30 October, and will then transfer to Chichester. 

Nancy Carroll and Shaun Evans will lead the company of Moira Buffini's Manor, playing the Lyttelton Theatre from 16 November - 1 January, with a press night on 23 November. Carroll will play the owner of a rundown manor house, where many guests find themselves sheltering from a storm.

The Manor company will also include Effie Ansah, Michele Austin, Helen Barford, Chris Barritt, Mat Betteridge, Sophie Bradley, Peter Bray, Sophie Cartman, Gillian Dean, Liadán Dunlea, Amy Forrest, Lewis Griffin, David Hargreaves, Edward Judge, Owen McDonnell and Shaniqua Okwok. Scenic and costume design is by Lez Brotherston, with lighting design by Jon Clark, and composition and sound design by Jon Nicholls.

^{Photo credit: Rosalie Craig and Michael Elcock (Photos courtesy of Curtis Brown and by Phil Sharp respectively)}