The National Theatre Announces New Season of Talks and Events

To accompany the new season of productions, a programme of talks and events will begin with a series relating to Antony and Cleopatra. Director Simon Godwin will reflect on the production, and Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo will discuss the challenges and rewards of appearing in the production. Professor of Classics Edith Hall will give A Short History of the Roman Empire and author Lucy Hughes-Hallett will look at the many variations on Cleopatra's legend at Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. Actor Tim McMullan will also reflect on playing Enobarbus. A more in-depth session focussing on the making of this production will be offered at Exploring Antony & Cleopatra at the NT whilst Setting the Scene: Antony & Cleopatra will offer an introductory step-by-step guide to the story.

Events relating to Hadestown include an opportunity to hear Director Rachel Chavkin and Writer Anaïs Mitchell reflect on their production whilst Dr Lucy Jackson will explore how myths were made and remade in Ancient Greece, and how that tradition of retelling myths continues today, at Modern Myths: Orpheus, Eurydice and Us. At Histories of the American Musical, Professor of Musical Theatre Millie Taylor will host a relaxed evening telling stories about the development of American musical theatre illustrated with live musical demonstrations. Marina Warner will then explore myths and stories in which female protagonists face demons and confront death by journeying to the underworld at The Heroine's Descent with Marina Warner.

War Horse related talks will begin with Animals in the Great War, which will study the experience of creatures great and small during World War One through the archival images held by Mary Evans Picture Library. Writer Michael Morpurgo will then reflect on his motivations and experiences of writing the novel and Inside the Horse: Exploring the War Horse Puppets will reveal the secrets of the extraordinary puppetry the show. There will also be a film screening of The Battle of the Ancre and the Advance of the Tanks, the official film of the British Army's autumn campaign on the Somme.

In relation to I'm Not Running, Writer David Hare will give a talk on his new play and Actors Sian Brooke, Alex Hassell and Joshua McGuire reflect on the challenges and rewards of performing the roles of Pauline, Jack and Sandy. Exploring I'm Not Running will then look at the themes of the play and the practicalities of putting together the production, with insights from cast members and academics. Two MPs will also discuss their experiences of parliament at two talks; Nick de Bois: Confessions of a Recovering MP and Jess Phillips: One Woman's Truth About Speaking the Truth.

Director and Writer Peter Brook will begin the series of events related to The Prisoner, as he reflects on the play, co-written and co-directed by him and his long-time collaborator Marie-Hélène Estienne. His work will then be studied, with contributions from academics and theatre-makers, at Exploring the Work of Peter Brook. Finally, Professor John Tasioulas will explore philosophical arguments around justice at Adding Suffering to Suffering: Justice, Punishment and Repentance.

Talks relating to Stories include The Unknown Parent, which will look at personal perspectives around the decision to use a sperm or egg donor and Race and Reproduction whilst will examine the different pressures and prejudices regarding infertility depending on the community you come from. Both these talks are programmed in association with Fertility Fest.

In relation to Tell-Tale Heart, journalist, broadcaster and theatre critic Aleks Sierz will explore the various incarnations of Murder on Stage and Professor of Literature and Culture Catherine Spooner will explore how gothic influences have permeated the stage, screen and visual arts at Exploring the Gothic in Culture. Director Anthony Neilson will also discuss his adaptation of the show and there will be a film screening of Tales of Terror.

To accompany the series of rehearsed readings as part of Courage Everywhere, a Courage Everywhere Pop-Up will see a takeover day of arts activities, talks and screenings. Naomi Paxton will also explore her research and curation of the exhibition Courage Everywhere: Women, Theatre and Politics at Exhibition Insight with Curator Naomi Paxton and also talk about the stories she has discovered from the history of suffrage theatre and activism at Activism in the Archives: Finding Stories of Suffrage Theatre. A panel featuring young women up and coming in their professions will unpacking how women's contribution and voices impact society at Hear Her Roar: Where Are Women's Voices? and Allie Esiri and guest actors will take us on a journey through women's poetry at Women Poets Through the Ages with Allie Esiri.

For more information, and to book tickets for these events, visit the NT website.

Full Listings Below:

Director Simon Godwin on Antony & Cleopatra Mon 1 Oct, 5.30 - 6.15pm, Olivier, £7/£5

Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo on playing Antony and Cleopatra Fri 11 Jan, 3 - 4pm, Olivier, £7/£5

A Short History of the Roman Empire Fri 7 Dec, 5.30 - 6.30pm, Cottesloe Room, £7/£5

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt Wed 16 Jan, 5.30 - 6.30pm, Cottesloe Room, £7/£5

Tim McMullan on Playing Enobarbus Thu 29 Nov, 6 - 7pm, Cottesloe Room, £7/£5

Exploring Antony & Cleopatra at the NT Mon 10 Dec, 10am - 3.30pm or 11.30am - 5pm, Clore Learning Centre, £55/£40/£15

Setting the Scene: Antony & Cleopatra Tue 16 Oct, Wed 5 Dec or Thu 10 Jan, 5.30 - 6.30pm, Cottesloe Room, £7/£5

Director Rachel Chavkin and Writer Anaïs Mitchell on Hadestown Mon 12 Nov, 6 - 6.45pm, Cottesloe Room, £7/£5

Modern Myths: Orpheus, Eurydice and Us Tue 22 Jan, 6 - 7pm, Cottesloe Room, £7/£5

Histories of the American Musical Fri 30 Nov, 7 - 9.15pm, Cottesloe Room, £15/£12/£7.50

The Heroine's Descent with Marina Warner Fri 14 Dec, 6 - 6.45pm, Olivier, £7/£5

Animals in the Great War Fri 9 Nov, 6 - 7pm, Cottesloe Room, £7/£5

Writer Michael Morpurgo on War Horse Tue 20 Nov, 5.45 - 6.30pm, Lyttelton, £7/£5

Inside the Horse: Exploring the War Horse Puppets Thur 22 Nov, 5.45 - 6.30pm, Lyttelton, £7/£5

The Battle of the Ancre and the Advance of the Tanks (film screening), 67 mins, PG Mon 19 Nov, 6 - 7.10pm, Cottesloe Room, £5/£3

Writer David Hare on I'm Not Running Mon 3 Dec, 6 - 6.45pm, Lyttelton, £7/£5

Actors Sian Brooke, Alex Hassell and Joshua McGuire on I'm Not Running Tue 15 Jan, 3 - 4pm, Lyttelton, £7/£5

Exploring I'm Not Running Thu 29 Nov, 2 - 5pm, Cottesloe Room, £30/£20/£7.50

Nick de Bois: Confessions of a Recovering MP Fri 11 Jan, 6 - 7pm, Cottesloe Room, £7/£5

Jess Phillips: One Woman's Truth About Speaking the Truth Fri 11 Jan, 7.30 - 8.30pm, Cottesloe Room, £7/£5

Director and Writer Peter Brook on The Prisoner Fri 14 Sep, 9.30 - 10.30pm, Dorfman, £7/£5

Exploring the Work of Peter Brook Mon 24 Sep, 2 - 5pm, Cottesloe Room, £30/£20/£7.50

Adding Suffering to Suffering: Justice, Punishment and Repentance Mon 24 Sep, 6 - 7pm, Cottesloe Room, £7/£5

The Unknown Parent in association with Fertility Fest Wed 7 Nov, 6 - 7pm, Cottesloe Room, £7/£5

Race and Reproduction in association with Fertility Fest Wed 14 Nov, 6 - 7pm, Cottesloe

Murder on Stage Thu 13 Dec, 6 - 7pm, Cottesloe Room, £7/£5

Exploring the Gothic in CultureTue 9 Jan, 6 - 7pm, Cottesloe Room, £7/£5

Director Anthony Neilson on The Tell-Tale Heart Mon 7 Jan, 6 - 6.45pm, Dorfman, £7/£5

Tales of Terror (film screening) Director Roger Corman, 1962, 84 mins, 15 Mon 17 Dec, 5.30 - 7pm, Cottesloe Room, £5/£3

Courage Everywhere Pop-Up Sun 18 Nov, 12 noon - 7pm, Clore Learning Centre, £10

Exhibition Insight with Curator Naomi Paxton Sat 17 Nov, 11.30am - 12.30pm, Lyttelton Lounge, £3

Activism in the Archives: Finding Stories of Suffrage Theatre Thu 15 Nov, 6 - 7pm, Cottesloe Room, £7/£5

Hear Her Roar: Where Are Women's Voices? Fri 23 Nov, 5.45 - 6.45pm, Dorfman, £7/£5

Women Poets Through the Ages with Allie Esiri Fri 16 Nov, 6 - 6.45pm, Dorfman, £7/£5

At the National Theatre, we make world-class theatre that is entertaining, challenging and inspiring, and we make it for everyone. In 2016-2017, the NT staged 26 productions and gave 2,585 performances at our home on the South Bank. The NT's award-winning programme had a UK paying audience of 1.8 million, 400,000 of which were NT Live audiences.

The work the National Theatre produces appeals to the widest possible audiences with new plays, musicals, re-imagined classics and new work for young audiences. The NT's work is seen in the West End, on tour throughout the UK and internationally, and in collaborations and co-productions with partners across the country. Through NT Live, we broadcast some of the best of British theatre to over 2,500 venues in 60 countries around the world.

Our extensive Learning programme offers talks, events and workshops for people of all ages, and reaches nationwide through programmes such as Connections, New Views and Let's Play. In 2016-2017 there were 196,826 participations through the NT Learning events programme. Over 3,000 schools have signed up to the free streaming service, On Demand. In Schools, since its launch in September 2015.

The National Theatre is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.