First Rehearsal Images Released for AMADEUS at the National Theatre

Rehearsals started this week for AMADEUS, which begins previews in the Olivier Theatre from 16 October (press night 26 October). This autumn, Peter Shaffer's classic play Amadeus makes a long-awaited return to the National Theatre after 37 years.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a rowdy young prodigy who arrives in Vienna determined to make a splash. Awestruck by his genius, Court Composer Antonio Salieri has the power to promote his talent or destroy it. Seized by obsessive jealousy he begins a war with Mozart, with music and, ultimately, with God.

Directed by Michael Longhurst (The World of Extreme Happiness at the NT and Constellations), this acclaimed play had its premiere at the NT in 1979, winning multiple Olivier and Tony Awards before being adapted into an Academy Award-winning film. In this new production, Lucian Msamati (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) plays Salieri, Adam Gillen Mozart, and Karla Crome Constanze, with live orchestral accompaniment by Southbank Sinfonia.

Designed by Chloe Lamford, with music direction and additional music by Simon Slater, choreography by Imogen Knight, lighting by Jon Clark and sound by Paul Arditti, the cast also includes Sarah Amankwah, Hammed Animashaun, Geoffrey Beevers, Fleur de Bray, Tom Edden, Matthew Hargreaves, Andrew MacBean, Alexandra Mathie, Eamonn Mulhall, Robyn Allegra Parton, Hugh Sachs, Eleanor Sutton, Wendy Dawn Thompson, Peter Willcock.

Amadeus runs from 19 October until 26 January with additional performances to be announced and is supported by Travelex with hundreds of seats at £15 for every show. The production is supported by the Amadeus production syndicate in association with Southbank Sinfonia.

Amadeus is directed Michael Longhurst, Lucian Msamati plays Salieri, Adam Gillen Mozart, and Karla Crome Constanze, the cast also includes Sarah Amankwah, Hammed Animashaun, Geoffrey Beevers, Fleur de Bray, Tom Edden, Matthew Hargreaves, Andrew MacBean, Alexandra Mathie, Eamonn Mulhall, Robyn Allegra Parton, Hugh Sachs, Eleanor Sutton, Wendy Dawn Thompson, Peter Willcock.

There will be live orchestral accompaniment from 20 members of the Southbank Sinfonia, Sarah Campbell, Giuseppe Ciraso Cali, Helen Clinton, Ruth Elder, Simon Gilliver, Douglas Harrison, Beth Higham-Edwards, Angélique Lihou, Jennifer MacCallum, Éanna Monoghan, BrenDan Parravicin, Kimon Parry, Oliver Pahley, Dan Shilladay, Laetitia Stott, Patrick Tapio Johnson, Anna Turmeau, Zanete Uskane, Minsi Yang, and Andrew Watson.

Platform discussions and events include Michael Longhurst on Amadeus 31 October at 6pm, In Focus Amadeus - the music 8 November. Lucian Msamati in discussion 11 January at 5.45pm. Shaffer at the NT 16 January.

Captioned performances will take place on 13 December, 26 January at 7.30, Tuesday 10 January at 2pm.

nationaltheatre.org.uk

Photo credit: Atri Banerjee