"Three Sisters" & world premiere of "Democracy" by Michael Frayn & New Platforms at National

"Three Sisters" & world premiere of "Democracy" by Michael Frayn & New Platforms at National

The National Theatre has confirmed details of two new productions in the Lyttelton & Cottesloe Theatres: Three Sisters in a new version by Nicholas Wright & the world premiere of Democracy by Michael Frayn.

Public booking opens 23 June 03 for these productions

Performance schedules click here

New productions include:

at the Lyttelton
THREE SISTERS
by Anton Chekhov, in a new version by Nicholas Wright
(Previews from 2 Aug 03, opens 12 Aug, booking to 4 Oct 03).
Directed by Katie Mitchell, designed by Vicki Mortimer, with lighting by Paule Constable.
Starring Lorraine Ashbourne (Olga), Eve Best (Masha), Anna Maxwell Martin (Irina),Dominic Rowan (André), Lucy Whybrow (Natasha), Ben Daniels (Vershinin), Paul Hilton, Tim McMullan, Peter Needham, Angus Wright.
Four young people are left stranded in a provincial backwater after the death of their father, an army General. They focus their dreams on returning to Moscow, a city remembered through the eyes of childhood as a place where happiness is possible.
(**This will be the first production of the play at the National since Laurence Olivier's celebrated 1967 production.)

Lorraine Ashbourne (Olga) makes her debut at the National; theatre work includes Katie Mitchell's production of "The Phoenician Women" at the RSC, "Fool for Love" (Donmar Warehouse) and "The Kitchen" (Royal Court). Eve Best, Anna Maxwell Martin and Lucy Whybrow were recently seen at the NT in Tom Stoppard's "The Coast of Utopia". Eve Best's other stage credits include Varya in "The Cherry Orchard" and "The Heiress" at the NT,and " 'Tis Pity She's a Whore" (Young Vic, winning the Evening Standard and Critics' Circle Outstanding Newcomer awards). Anna Maxwell Martin has just completed the run of "Honour" at the Cottesloe, while Dominic Rowan was recently seen there as Freud in "The Talking Cure". Ben Daniels won an Olivier Award playing Chris Keller in Howard Davies's production of "All My Sons" at the Cottesloe and Lyttelton Theatres; other theatre work includes "900 Oneonta" (Old Vic), "Tales from Hollywood" (Donmar).

at the Cottesloe
DEMOCRACY
by Michael Frayn
(Previews from 30 Aug 03, opens 9 Sep 03, booking to 4 Oct 03)
Directed by Michael Blakemore, set designs are by Peter J Davison, costumes by Sue Willmington, lighting by Mark Henderson.
starring Roger Allam as Willy Brandt and Conleth Hill as Gunter Guillaume. The cast also includes Nicholas Blane, Jonathan Coy, Christopher Ettridge, Paul Gregory, Glyn Grain, Steven Pacey, David Ryall.
West Germany, 1969. Willy Brandt begins his brief but remarkable career as the first left-of-centre Chancellor for nearly forty years. Always present but rarely noticed is Günter Guillaume, Brandt's devoted personal assistant - and no less devoted in his other role, spying on Brandt for the Stasi.

Roger Allam's previous work at the National includes Lopakhin in "The Cherry Orchard", Hitler in Albert Speer, "Summerfolk", "Money" (Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor) and "Troilus and Cressida". His other recent West End theatre credits include "What The Night Is For", "Privates on Parade" (Olivier Award for Best Actor) and two of the roles in "Art". Conleth Hill makes his NT debut; he won the Laurence Olivier Best Actor award for "Stones in his Pockets", which he performed in Ireland, London, Toronto and New York.

Casting update for
EDMOND
by David Mamet
(which previews from 10 July 03, opens 17 July 03, closes 4 Oct 03 at the Olivier).
Directed by Edward Hall, designed by Michael Pavelka, lighting by Mark Henderson.
The cast includes Kenneth Branagh , Tony Haygarth, Stephen Greif, Jude Akuwudike, Robert Horwell, David Kennedy, Adam Levy, Iain Mitchell, Nicola Stephenson, Harry Towb, Elli Garnett, Rebecca Johnson, Tom Marshall, Joseph Mydell, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Nicola Walker..
A fortune-teller sends Edmond lurching into New York City's hellish underworld, his whole life abandoned in a searing quest for self-discovery and redemption (**Note: this play contains language that some people may find offensive)

Casting update for
TALES FROM THE VIENNA WOODS
by Ödön von Horváth, in a new version by David Harrower
(which previews from 7 Oct 03, opens 14 Oct 03, closes 19 Nov 03 at the Olivier)
Directed by Richard Jones, designed by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting by Mark Henderson .
The cast includes Frances Barber (Valerie), Darrell D'Silva (Oskar), Karl Johnson, David Ross.
Set against the sentimental backdrop of the Vienna Woods and to the distant tune of a Strauss Waltz, a community steeped in bigotry concerns itself with love affairs, petty squabbles, jealousies and personal tragedy Meanwhile, society at large, haunted by inflation, goes reeling towards Fascism

A further 20 Platforms have been announced. We have included all platforms below, both new and previously announced ones!!

Interview: His Girl Friday director Jack O'Brien
at the Olivier
6 June 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
talks about his production

Harold Pinter: War
at the Olivier
10 June 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
Harold Pinter reads from his new publication War

Interview: Henry V director Nicholas Hytner
at the Olivier
20 June 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
talks about his production

Talk: Henry V - Kissed by History with Felipe Fernandez-Armesto
at the Olivier
27 June 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
"The ugly prince, kissed by history, becomes a beautiful legend."

Saskia Reeves: Much Ado About Nothing
at the Lyttelton
10 July 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
Saskia Reeves played Beatrice in Cheek by Jowl's production of Much Ado About Nothing, and presents an illuminating account of her part and the play.

Simon Callow: Henry IV, Part II
at the Lyttelton
11 July 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
The acclaimed actor immerses himself in Henry IV, providing an in-depth examination of the art of the play and the craft of the actor.

Discussion: Zeno's paradox
at the Lyttleton
14 July 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
Mathematician Dr Helen Joyce talks about infinitesimals and other conundrums from Jumpers

Peter Hall: Shakespeare's Advice to the Players
at the Lyttelton
15 July 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
In his new book, the eminent director offers guidance on speaking and understanding the Bard's verse

Interview: Tom Stoppard on Jumpers
at the Lyttleton
22 July 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins

Nichola McAuliffe: The Crime Tsar
at the Cottesloe
23 July 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
Following her recent appearance as Baroness Bomburst in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Nichola McAuliffe talks about her first novel.

Will Self: Dorian
at the Lyttelton
25 July 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
The author, journalist and broadcaster discusses his latest novel.

Wordplay: Shakespeare Masterclass
at the Olivier
25 July 2003, 2.30pm
Tickets: 5 ukp
Running time is 2 hrs
Patsy Rodenburg (NT Head of Voice) leads a session in Shakespearean verse speaking

Interview: Edmond director Edward Hall
at the Olivier
31 July 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
talks about his production

David Oyelowo: Henry VI
at the cottesloe
1 Aug 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
David Oyelowo was only two years out of acting school when approached to play the lead in Henry VI. Charting the journey he took as a tyro actor playing a tyro king he elaborates on the pitfalls and joys of getting and playing such a wonderful part.

Jane Lapotaire: Time Out of Mind
at the Cottesloe
8 Aug 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
One of our country's most distinguished actresses, Jane Lapotaire reads from and talks about her memoir.

In Performance: David Weston in Falstaff
at the Cottesloe
12 & 18 Aug 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
Adapted from the novel by Robert Nye. Directed by Paul Robinson. 1459. Falstaff wakes up in his bedchamber at Caister Castle, has breakfast, remembers his battles, triumphs and tragedies and, eventually, gets back into bed to die.

Interview: Kwame Kwei-Armah and Angus Jackson
at the Cottesloe
14 Aug 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
The writer and director discuss Elmina's Kitchen

Interview: Director Katie Mitchell on Three Sisters
at the Lyttelton
20 Aug 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins

Playreading: David Mamet's Duck Variations
at the Olivier
3 Sep 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
Two old men sit on a park bench discussing ducks

Discussion: His Girl Friday Stage v Screen
at the Olivier
5 Sep 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
The play or the film... which works best?

Sheridan Morley: Asking for Trouble
at the Cottesloe
12 Sep 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
The theatre critic, broadcaster and biographer discusses his autobiography

In Performance: Stephen Boxer in Rousseau's Tale
at the Cottesloe
15, 17 & 29 Sep, 1 Oct 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
By David Pownall. Directed by Stephen Daldry 1765. Jean-Jaques Rousseau, exiled from his native France, has been invited to deliver a lecture to the Royal Society in Fleet Street on the subject of 'Sexual Feelings'.

Interview: Stewart Lee & Richard Thomas
at the Lyttelton
16 Sep 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
creators of Jerry Springer - The Opera: 'We Slept Our Way To A National Theatre Production!'

Interview: Actor Michael Brandon, who plays Jerry Springer
at the Lyttelton
18 Sep 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
'I Never Looked Like Jerry Before!'

Interview: Michael Frayn on Democracy
at the Cottesloe
19 Sep 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins

Wordplay: Modern American classics
at the Olivier
19 Sep 2003, 2.30pm
Tickets: 5 ukp
Running time is 2 hrs
An illustrated examination of the best of American writing

Talk: Juergen Kroenig on Democracy
at the Cottesloe
24 Sep 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
A unique insight into the historical facts behind the play from the journalist who covered Willy Brandt's resignation for the German newspaper, Die Zeit.

Interview: Nick Dear on Power
at the Cottesloe
30 Sep 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins

Talk: Chekhov expert Vera Gottlieb on Three Sisters
at the Lyttelton
3 Oct 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins

Wordplay: Adapting for the stage
at the Olivier
17 Oct 2003, 2.30pm
Tickets: 5 ukp
Running time is 2 hrs
Learn more about the art of turning other media into theatre.

Interview: Tales from the Vienna Woods director Richard Jones
at the Olivier
22 Oct 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
talks about his production

Playreading: Ödön von Horváth's A Sexual Congress
at the Olivier
3 Nov 2003, 2pm
Tickets: 5 ukp
Running time is 2 hrs
"The gigantic battle between the individual and society"

Wordplay: Translating for theatre
at the Olivier
6 Nov 2003, 2.30pm
Tickets: 5 ukp
Running time is 2 hrs
Insights into the challenges of interpreting foreign texts

Review: The Travelex £10 Season
at the Olivier
21 Nov 2003, 6pm
Tickets: 3.50 ukp
Running time is 45mins
A look back at what the Season was like...