Rufus Norris News

BBC Arts, BBC Films and Arts Council England have together partnered with Cuba Pictures and the National Theatre to bring LOVE to BBC Two later this year. Friends star David Schwimmer joins the team as executive producer. 

This August, a company of over 200 people from across London joins forces at the National Theatre to perform a new musical version of Shakespeare's Pericles.

Fringe First-winning playwright Gbolahan Obisesan adapts the story of four brothers torn apart by a prophecy. In a small Nigerian town, Ben and Obembe slip away to fish at a forbidden river along with their two older brothers. Risking the wrath of their father, who expects great things of them all, they continue unnoticed and carefree until one day the prophecy of a madman changes the course of their lives. Based on the Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by one of Africa's major new voices, New Perspectives in association with HOME present Chigozie Obioma's powerful allegory of brotherhood, vengeance and fate.

The National Theatre today announces a new exhibition, Look At You Now, featuring photo portraits by young people of 53 people who are connected with the NT including actors Julie Walters and Lenny Henry, director Indhu Rubasingham and lighting designer Paule Constable.

HOME in Manchester presents the world premiere production of The Fishermen, by Nottingham-based theatre company New Perspectives between Thursday 19 - Saturday 28 July 2018. The production then travels to the Edinburgh Festival, performing at the Assembly George Square Studios between Thursday 2 - Monday 27 August (not Mondays 13 & 20), and then touring to nine venues in England including the Arcola in London, Monday 17 - Saturday 22 September.

The National Theatre announces new information, and recaps its upcoming season.

A company of over 200 people of all ages from across London join together with professional artists to breathe new life into this classic tale in a musical version on the National Theatre's Olivier stage from 26 - 28 August 2018.

The National Theatre's River Stage Festival is back this summer with five weekends of exciting acts, showcasing the great work that is going on in the arts in the UK.

17-year-old Alice Schofield from CAPA College in Wakefield, has won the National Theatre's annual playwriting competition for 14 - 19-year-olds, New Views.

Disabled actor Jamie Beddard is to play Joseph Merrick in a bold, new production of Bernard Pomerance's moving play, highlighting views of disability and difference, in past times and in the present day.

Ten UK school and youth theatre companies will stage ten new plays at the 2018 National Theatre Connections Festival, which takes place in the Dorfman Theatre from 26-30 June.

The New York Philharmonic announces Foreign Bodies, a one-night-only multidisciplinary event conducted and hosted by Esa-Pekka Salonen, concluding his tenure as The Marie-Jos e Kravis Composer-in-Residence. The concert, Friday, June 8, 2018, at 8:00 p.m., will feature Esa-Pekka Salonen's Foreign Bodies, accompanied by the World Premiere of a live video installation by Tal Rosner; Dan el Bjarnason's Violin Concerto, with Pekka Kuusisto in his New York Philharmonic debut; and Obsidian Tear, a dance work choreographed by Wayne McGregor performed by members of the Boston Ballet (Philharmonic debut) and set to Mr. Salonen's Nyx and Lachen verlernt. Foreign Bodies will be casual and multi-sensory; drinks and conversation will flow as attendees mingle with the performers, who will give additional impromptu performances throughout the event.

Producers Tim Levy (Director, NT America) and Jordan Roth (President, Jujamcyn Theaters) announced today that the Olivier Award®-winning National Theatre revival of Tony Kushner's masterwork, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, has established the 'Angels Fund' to provide hundreds of $5 tickets to each part of the play to NYC-area LGBTQ & HIV/AIDS service organizations. Some of the organizations that have received these specially-priced tickets include: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA), Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), SAGE, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center and The LGBTQ Center.

Continuing our interview series of NT Live broadcasts, this month's focuses on Macbeth at the National Theatre. Directed by Rufus Norris and featuring Rory Kinnear and Anne-Marie Duff, Macbeth will be broadcast live to cinemas across the UK and in selected international venues from Thursday 10 May. Joshua Lacey and Sam Psyk share their thoughts ahead of the broadcast, one who'll be on stage on the night and one behind the scenes (and screen).

Translations is currently in rehearsals at the National Theatre, ahead of its first major revival on the London stage. This not only marks actor Dermot Crowley's fourth time appearing in the play, but also over four decades of working at the National. Catching up over a lunch break, Dermot tells us just what it is that makes him want to return both to the play and the National again, and shares his advice on playing the Olivier.

It has been announced that Tony-nominated actor Beth Malone will assume the role of 'The Angel' in Broadway's Angels in America full-time beginning May 23rd.

Producers Tim Levy (Director, NT America) and Jordan Roth (President, Jujamcyn Theaters) announced today that the Olivier Award-winning National Theatre revival of Tony Kushner's masterwork, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, now the most Tony Award nominated play in history, has extended its run on Broadway for an additional two weeks, through Sunday, July 15, 2018. Originally announced as an 18-week limited engagement, Angels in America began previews on February 23, and opened March 25 at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street).

Shakespeare's most intense and terrifying tragedy, Macbeth, directed by Rufus Norris (The Threepenny Opera, London Road), will see Rory Kinnear (Young Marx, Othello) and Anne-Marie Duff (Oil, Suffragette) return to the National Theatre of London to play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.  In the ruined aftermath of a bloody civil war, ruthlessly fighting to survive, the Macbeths are propelled towards the crown by forces of elemental darkness.

The National Theatre has announced its May-September 2018 season.

Nuffield Southampton Theatres present the world premiere of SS Mendi: Dancing the Death Drill by critically acclaimed Cape Town-based Isango Ensemble. Part of 14-18 NOW, the UK's official arts programme for the First World War centenary, the production commemorates an untold tragedy from WW1 that took place off the coast of Southampton. Prior to rehearsals beginning Samuel Hodges, Director of Nuffield Southampton Theatres will visit Cape Town where the SS Mendi began its journey. Mark Dornford-May directs the production which opens at Nuffield Southampton Theatres on Wednesday 4 July with previews from Friday 29 June and performances until Saturday 14 July. Dubbed the 'Black Titanic', the sinking of SS Mendi was one of the worst maritime disasters in the 20th century in UK waters.