Brendan Cowell to star in 'The Crucible'

Arthur Miller’s play returns to the National Theatre for the first time in over 30 years.

The National Theatre has revealed two upcoming productions to open in 2022. In an article from The Guardian, The Crucible will play at the Olivier theatre, while a new work about Afghan refugees will open in the Dorfman theatre.

Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is a historical drama which analyses the 17th-century Salem witch trials in the United States. Brendan Cowell will lead The Crucible cast as John Proctor, joined by Erin Doherty as Abigail Williams, Fisayo Akinade, Rachelle Diedericks, Nick Fletcher, Karl Johnson, Gracie McGonigal, Matthew Marsh and Eileen Walsh.

Lyndsey Turner directs The Crucible production, with set design by Es Devlin, costume design by Catherine Fay, lighting design by Tim Lutkin and sound design by Tingying Dong. The Crucible begins previews on 14 September with an opening night on 21 September.

The London premiere of Hamed and Hessam Amiri’s The Boy With Two Hearts will begin previews in the Dorfman space from 1 October, with an opening night on 5 October. Phil Porter adapts the novel for the stage, which follows an Afghan family who flee the Taliban to seek British health treatment. The Boy With Two Hearts opened at Wales Millenium Centre in 2021.

Amit Sharma directs the original cast of Afghan and Iranian performers: Shamail Ali, Dana Haqjoo, Farshid Rokey, Ahmad Sakhi, Elana Soroor and Géhane Strehler. The Boy With Two Hearts features set and costume design by Hayley Grindle, lighting design by Amy Mae and sound design by Tic Ashfield.

The Lyttelton theatre will house a new production of Blues for an Alabama Sky, starring Samira Wiley and Giles Terera. Previews begin on 20 September with an opening night on 27 September. Find out more about Blues for an Alabama Sky in London.

Hex will return to the Olivier Theatre this Christmas. The fairytale musical adapts Sleeping Beauty that goes beyond the traditional story. Rufus Norris directs the musical which features a book by Tanya Ronder, music by Jim Fortune and lyrics by Rufus Norris. Hex was at the National Theatre in 2021. Find out more about Hex.

Following its West End run, The Ocean at the End of the Lane will now tour the UK and Ireland. The Ocean at the End of the Lane plays a final performance at the Duke of York’s Theatre on 14 May.

Photo credit: National Theatre (Photo by Garry Knight on Flickr)