The National Theatre has announced full details of its 2027 season line-up, promising a major year of new writing, ambitious productions and reimagined classics, bringing together eight world premieres with acclaimed works from the theatrical canon.
Stretching across the NT’s stages and beyond, the new programme brings together British and international perspectives while exploring questions of conflict, division, resilience and hope.
With 18 productions announced, the 2027 programme reflects the National Theatre’s continued commitment to bold new work and its belief in theatre’s ability to engage with the world around us.
National Theatre 2027 Programme Includes Eight World Premieres
Among the new productions revealed is Glorious Madness, a new British musical featuring music and lyrics by legendary Grammy and Brit Award-winning artist Joan Armatrading.
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, the production is a new love story with a book by Iman Qureshi, presented in co-production with KPPL Productions.
Another major new work is Major, written by James Graham and directed by Jeremy Herrin. The pair reunite following their acclaimed production of This House for a play exploring the defining moment when John Major became Prime Minister following Margaret Thatcher.
National Theatre Director Indhu Rubasingham also reunites with writer Moira Buffini for The Great Indaba, which dramatises how the 1998 Good Friday Agreement took a significant step forward during an extraordinary meeting in South Africa.
Samira and The Adeyemis Explore Conflict and Family
Samira, written by Carmen Nasr and directed by Emily Burns, is set during the Arab Spring and features a cast including May Calamawy, Joshua McGuire and Sirine Saba.
Meanwhile, British Nigerian writer Oladipo Agboluaje brings The Adeyemis – A Family Saga to the National Theatre. Directed by Lucian Msamati, the epic family drama marks three-time Emmy-winning actor Uzo Aduba’s National Theatre debut.
Mr Loverman will see Natasha Gordon adapt Bernardine Evaristo’s acclaimed novel, with Paulette Randall directing. Initial casting includes Gary Beadle, Jo Martin and Danny Sapani.
The programme will also mark the 50th anniversary of the National Theatre’s South Bank home with Ghostlight, a new immersive production from multi-award-winning theatre company Punchdrunk. Conceived and directed by Felix Barrett, Ghostlight will be curated by writer Lucy Kirkwood.
For younger audiences, The Last Wild will receive its world premiere as a new adaptation by Jude Christian, touring for primary school and family audiences.
Reimagined Classics In Major New Productions
Alongside its new writing, the National Theatre will present a series of major reimagined classics.
The iconic musical masterpiece West Side Story returns in a major revival of the Broadway classic, co-directed by Marianne Elliott and Miranda Cromwell. Jerome Robbins’ original choreography will be reproduced and adapted by Julio Monge.
Michael Grandage will direct a new production of Tennessee Williams’ Suddenly Last Summer, featuring Emma Corrin, Arty Froushan and Harriet Walter.
Another major revival will be Plenty, ahead of its 50th anniversary. Former National Theatre Director Richard Eyre reunites with playwright David Hare for a new production of the landmark award-winning play, with Emilia Clarke making her National Theatre debut.
Paul Mescal Leads Two Repertory Productions
The programme will also feature repertory productions of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman and Tom Murphy’s A Whistle in the Dark.
Paul Mescal leads the productions, with Death of a Salesman directed by Rebecca Frecknall and A Whistle in the Dark directed by Caitríona McLaughlin.
Further casting announced includes Monica Dolan, Ciarán Hinds, Tracy Letts and Aisling Loftus.
Meanwhile, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead returns in a new production directed by National Theatre Deputy Artistic Director Robert Hastie.
The Tom Stoppard classic arrives 60 years after its first London and Broadway productions, with Mawaan Rizwan and George Fouracres taking the title roles.
National Theatre 2027 Programme Explores Resilience And Hope
The National Theatre says the season brings together national and global perspectives spanning continents, with the productions exploring how resilience and hope endure in the face of conflict and division.
From political history and family sagas to celebrated plays and new theatrical experiences, the 2027 programme demonstrates the breadth of the National Theatre’s ambitions for its stages and audiences.
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