15 November 2019 National Theatre December 2019 – June 2020 Announced today: • NT Associate Simon Godwin directs ROMEO & JULIET with Josh O’Connor and Jessie Buckley as the star-crossed lovers and Fisayo Akinade as Mercutio • SEA SICK written and performed by Alanna Mitchell will play in the Dorfman Theatre following a Canadian tour and sold-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe earlier this year • HAMLET reimagined for younger audiences by Jude Christian and directed by Tinuke Craig will tour to state schools across London, before performances in the Dorfman Theatre in March • Gary Owen’s new play ROMEO AND JULIE, a co-production with Sherman Theatre, with Callum Scott Howells and Rosie Sheehy as Romeo and Julie, will tour to four Theatre Nation Partnership venues across the UK, before performances in the Dorfman Theatre and the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff • NT Live broadcasts in 2020 to include CYRANO DE BERGERAC with James McAvoy from the Playhouse Theatre, and THE WELKIN, JACK ABSOLUTE FLIES AGAIN and ROMEO & JULIET from the NT Updates on previously announced productions: • Laurie Davidson and Natalie Simpson will play Jack Absolute and Lydia Languish with Caroline Quentin as Mrs Malaprop and Richard Fleeshman as Dudley Scunthorpe in JACK ABSOLUTE FLIES AGAIN, Richard Bean and Oliver Chris’s new play directed by Thea Sharrock • Daneka Etchells, Jenny Galloway, Haydn Gwynne, Zainab Hasan, June Watson, Laurence Ubong Williams, Shaofan Wilson and Hara Yannas join the company of Lucy Kirkwood’s new play THE WELKIN, which also includes Maxine Peake and Ria Zmitrowicz • Jason Barnett, Joseph Mydell, Sara Kestelman and Nicholas Woodeson join Lesley Manville and Hugo Weaving in the company of THE VISIT or THE OLD LADY COMES TO CALL • Chris Anderson, Bryan Dick, Francesca Mills and Wanda Opalinska join the cast of ALL OF US alongside Francesca Martinez in her debut play • Michele Austin and David Hargreaves join Nancy Carroll and Ben Daniels in the cast of MANOR, a new play by Moira Buffini, directed by Fiona Buffini Rufus Norris, Director, says: “I am pleased to announce four new productions coming to the National Theatre next year. In the Dorfman we have Alanna Mitchell’s remarkable one-woman show about the state of the ocean, SEA SICK, opening in April. Following its sell-out run in Edinburgh earlier this year the production tells the story of the science behind our seas and could not be more important as we all look to find ways to tackle the climate emergency. Shakespeare has been reimagined for younger audiences by Jude Christian in her energetic re-telling of HAMLET directed by Tinuke Craig. Created for 8-12 year olds, this production will tour directly into schools across London before performances in the Dorfman in April 2020. Also in the Dorfman, Rachel O’Riordan directs Gary Owen’s new play ROMEO AND JULIE which takes inspiration from Shakespeare’s play to create a funny and poignant look at the hope and heartbreak of two working class teenagers. A co-production with Sherman Theatre, we’re delighted to be able to tour this production to four of the brilliant Theatre Nation Partnership venues that we have been working closely with to build audiences over the last three years. It’s also wonderful to be welcoming Simon Godwin back to the NT to direct Shakespeare’s ROMEO & JULIET in the Olivier. Combining Simon’s impeccable classical credentials with the brightest young actors, this is sure to be an unmissable production. These productions are announced today, alongside the news that Francesca Martinez’s new play ALL OF US, Moira Buffini’s MANOR and Richard Bean and Oliver Chris’ JACK ABSOLUTE FLIES AGAIN, will all go on sale this December.” For new show artwork, click here. Just announced: Simon Godwin returns to the National Theatre to direct Shakespeare’s ROMEO & JULIET following his critically-acclaimed productions of Antony and Cleopatra and Twelfth Night in the Olivier Theatre. Set in modern Italy in a world where Catholic and secular values clash, Jessie Buckley (Wild Rose, Judy) and Josh O’Connor (The Crown, God’s Own Country) play the two young lovers who strive to transcend a world of violence and corruption. Fisayo Akinade (The Antipodes, Barber Shop Chronicles) is cast as Mercutio. The production will open in the Olivier Theatre in August 2020. Set and costume design by Soutra Gilmour, lighting design by Lucy Carter, composition by Michael Bruce and sound design by Christopher Shutt. -- Following a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and a Canadian tour, the Theatre Centre’s critically acclaimed production SEA SICK about the state of the global ocean, written and performed by Alanna Mitchell, comes to the National Theatre. In this powerful story, Mitchell uses science and wit to tell us about her journey to the bottom of the ocean, the demons she discovered there, and her hope for the future. Mitchell is an award-winning Canadian journalist and author who writes about science and social trends specialising in investigative reporting. SEA SICK is inspired by her international bestseller and award-winning book of the same name, and is directed by Franco Boni and Ravi Jain. In the Dorfman 22 April – 7 May. Tickets available to the public from the 6th December. -- Jude Christian (Lyric Hammersmith’s othellomacbeth) has reimagined HAMLET for younger audiences. Running in the Dorfman from 30 March – 9 April this energetic and engaging re- telling of Shakespeare’s most well-known tragedy is suitable for ages 8-12. The production will also tour to state primary schools across Greater London from 10 February, collectively reaching over 6,000 pupils during the run as part of the NT’s commitment to introducing children and young people to theatre. Directed by Tinuke Craig with set and costume design by Frankie Bradshaw, lighting design by Paul Knott, music by Sarah Taylor Ellis, sound design by Clark Henry-Brown and movement direction by Morgan Runacre-Temple. The National Theatre's Partner for Learning is Bank of America Primary schools touring is supported by: The Mohn Westlake Foundation, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Ingram Trust, The Hearn Foundation, Archie Sherman Charitable Trust, The Behrens Foundation, Cleopatra Trust, The Dorset Foundation, Jill and David Leuw, Mulberry Trust, Newcomen Collett Foundation, St Olave's Foundation Fund, and The Topinambour Trust. -- Inspired by Shakespeare's romantic tragedy, writer Gary Owen and director Rachel O'Riordan reunite (Iphigenia in Splott, Killology) to deliver ROMEO AND JULIE a powerful, funny and poignant new play about the hope and heartbreak of two young people in the 21st century. Callum Scott Howells and Rosie Sheehy will play Romeo and Julie, with Anita Reynolds as Kath. Romeo is a teenage single dad hanging on tight. Julie is fighting to follow her dream of studying at Cambridge. Two working-class eighteen-year-olds raised a few streets apart, but from entirely different worlds, the pair crash headlong into first love, physics and dirty nappies. But at this crossroads to the rest of their lives, both families fear the worst in a world of unequal opportunity. A co-production with Sherman Theatre the production will open at The Lowry, Salford (5 -10 June), before touring to Cast, Doncaster (16 – 20 June); Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch (23 –27 June); and Theatre Royal, Wakefield (30 June – 4 July), four of the Theatre Nation Partners the NT has been working closely with for the past three years on a nationwide project to broaden and grow local audiences for drama in England. Romeo and Julie will then play in the Dorfman at the National Theatre (14 July – 29 August), before closing at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff (16 September – 3 October). Set and costume design by Hayley Grindle, lighting design by Jack Knowles, sound design by Gregory Clarke and puppetry design and direction by Finn Caldwell. Theatre Nation Partnerships is generously supported by Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Fund and Garfield Weston Foundation. National Theatre UK Touring is supported by The Thompson Family Charitable Trust, The Royal National Theatre Foundation and Jacqueline and Richard Worswick. Productions on sale to the public Friday 6 December: Olivier Theatre JACK ABSOLUTE FLIES AGAIN by Richard Bean and Oliver Chris based on Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Rivals In repertoire from April 15, press night 28 April with further dates to be announced July 1940. After an aerial dog fight, Pilot Officer Jack Absolute flies home to his intrepid young Hurricane squadron at RAF Fontwell (formerly Malaprop Hall, East Sussex). Back on British soil, Jack is shocked to find his old flame, Lydia, on the base. Setting his sights on winning her heart, Jack’s advances turn to anarchy when the young heiress demands to be loved on her own terms. Laurie Davidson and Natalie Simpson will play Jack Absolute and Lydia Languish with Caroline Quentin as Mrs Malaprop and Richard Fleeshman as Dudley Scunthorpe. The cast will also include James Corrigan, Jordan Metcalfe and Helena Wilson. Staged during the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, Thea Sharrock (After The Dance) directs a riotous and comedic new version of Sheridan’s The Rivals, co-written by Richard Bean (One Man, Two Guvnors) and Oliver Chris. Set and costume design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Bruno Poet, sound design by Paul Arditti, music by Adrian Johnston and video design by Jeff Sugg. Production supported by Juliet de Baubigny Lyttelton Theatre MANOR a new play by Moira Buffini Playing from 7 April, press night 15 April with further performances to be announced A violent storm sweeps the coast. Diana Stuckley and her daughter are struggling to keep the roof on their run-down manor house, when neighbours and strangers begin to appear on their doorstep, seeking shelter from the floods.