Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

The Latest Breaking News from National Theatre

Conservative theatre-making will kill the UK industry, says National’s director

Indhu Rubasingham calls in Jennie Lee lecture for renewed commitment to creative risk and new writing

The Guardian - UK

National Theatre director says decline in new writing risks ‘betrayal of William Shakespeare’

Indhu Rubasingham issued a stark warning to industry figures as she gave a landmark lecture

The Independent UK

Letitia Wright, Cate Blanchett and Sandra Oh to star in National Theatre shows

Lineup for 2026 includes a Molière adaptation and a mash-up of Sophocles and Ingmar Bergman

The Guardian - UK

From analysis to the latest developments in health,
read the most diverse news in one place.

Oscar winner to headline star-studded National Theatre 2026 line-up

IN FULL

The Independent UK

Cate Blanchett to headline National Theatre’s ambitious 2026 line-up

Oscar-winning actor will star alongside Nina Hoss and Ella Lily Hyland in Benedict Andrews’ new production Electra / Persona this August

The Independent UK

Cate Blanchett to perform at National Theatre as 2026 programme released

Killing Eve star Sandra Oh will also make her debut at the London theatre, while The Crown’s Lesley Manville will perform alongside Aiden Turner.

Evening Standard

Sir Ian McKellen says it was ‘unexpected’ to play Hamlet in his 80s

The 86-year-old discussed taking on the titular role in Shakespeare’s famous play.

Evening Standard

Read news from The Economist, FT, and more,
with one subscription

Cynthia Erivo is Dracula, Gentleman Jack does ballet and Phil Wang’s mega-tour: theatre, dance and comedy in 2026

Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner unite for Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Michael Sheen launches Welsh National Theatre and Bridget Christie revs up for a return to the stage

The Guardian - UK

Nicola Coughlan and Helen Mirren to star in National Theatre Live cinema shows

Dame Helen stars as Queen Elizabeth II in the Olivier and Tony Award-winning production The Audience.

Evening Standard

End at National Theatre: 'Performed with great subtlety by Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves'

4/5 Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves reunite to complete David Eldridge’s trilogy about couples

Evening Standard

Murder, racism… and a drama therapist? David Harewood, Toby Jones and Caitlin FitzGerald on their new Othello

INTERVIEW: Almost three decades after Harewood made history as the National Theatre’s first Black Othello, he is stepping back into the role. Annabel Nugent meets him and his co-stars over steak and salad to talk drama therapists, stinky smooches, and Blackface in theatre

The Independent UK

What’s in a name? West End casting directors raise concerns about trend for big stars

Film and TV stars are selling tickets, but director says reliance on famous names is ‘killing audiences’ intellects’

The Guardian - UK

Hamlet review – a cocky prince of infinite jest runs riot at the National

Hiran Abeysekera brings humour to the tragedy and Francesca Mills steals the show as Ophelia but this staging pulls its emotional punches

The Guardian - UK

Hamlet at National Theatre: the Prince has ADHD in uneven production

3/5 Hiran Abeysekera in Hamlet at the Lyttelton Theatre is a production with plenty of ideas even if it is hit and miss

Evening Standard

Get all your
news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One news app.

The Guardian - UK

Hit and myth: Bacchae brings into view the National’s history of revamping Greek tragedies

Following in the footsteps of Peter Hall and Katie Mitchell, Indhu Rubasingham directs an ancient epic at the National Theatre. Bacchae reveals the virtues and vices of creating a new play from old

The Guardian - UK

Tony Harrison obituary

Outspoken poet and dramatist admired for his stage adaptations, including The Mysteries

The Guardian - UK

‘The man who came to read the metre’: Yorkshire poet Tony Harrison was the National Theatre bard

Harrison, who has died aged 88, wrote copiously for the stage, both as an ingenious translator and dazzlingly original dramatist

The Guardian - UK

Bacchae review – Indhu Rubasingham launches National Theatre tenure with new-gen rap tragedy

This eccentric take on Euripedes by Nima Taleghani is a striking yet often frustrating opening statement

Get all your
news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One news app.

Evening Standard

Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen to reflect on careers at National Theatre

The event will be hosted by Downton Abbey actor Jim Carter.

The Guardian - UK

‘A secret garden’: National Theatre turns roof into riot of colour with dye plants

Textile artists are reshaping how the theatre makes its costumes with the aim of replacing harsh synthetic dyes

The Guardian - UK

‘Nothing less than a punishment’: Serbian artists criticise theatre role for ex-paramilitary chief

Dragoslav Bokan to head national theatre’s board of directors as authorities crack down on culture sector

The Guardian - UK

Actor and writer Gawn Grainger dies aged 87

A prolific performer with the National Theatre, the actor and playwright – who was married to Zoë Wanamaker – was also a regular on TV, starring in Doctor Who

Evening Standard

Here We Are at the National Theatre, Lyttelton review: should this have been staged at all?

2/5 Stephen Sondheim’s posthumous musical has no songs, only a stellar cast save it from being completely unenjoyable

Evening Standard

Paul Mescal headlines National Theatre’s bold new season as Stormzy debuts for ground-breaking collaboration

The theatre unveils ambitious global vision with 16 new productions, including Mescal’s double debuts and a Stormzy-powered musical

Evening Standard

Paul Mescal to make National Theatre debut in two 20th century plays

It comes after it was announced the actor is play Sir Paul McCartney in four films directed by Sir Sam Mendes about The Beatles.

1 2 3 4 5

People

From analysis to the latest developments in health,
read the most diverse news in one place.

Organisations

Read news from The Economist, FT, and more,
with one subscription

Topics

Places

Fourteen days free

Download the app

One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.