Jack Thorne’s ‘After Life’ reopens Dorfman Theatre this summer

The National Theatre will welcome live audiences again from June 2021.

The National Theatre will greet theatregoers once more as its venues will open again this summer. The Dorfman will be the first space to reopen with Jack Thorne's After Life, with performances from 2 June - 24 July.

Director of the National Theatre, Rufus Norris says: "Sharing our work online and on television over the last year has enabled us to reach millions of people and continue to keep culture alive, but the magic of live theatre is what we can now begin to look towards: to creating work with our freelance artists and colleagues, to supporting young people's creativity, and to bringing joy to audiences and communities through imaginative and inspiring live performance."

Based on the 1998 Japanese film by Hirokazu Kore-eda, After Life will have audiences questioning the way they live. When potentially life-changing situations occur, audiences will have to think about who they would live with for eternity.

After Life is written by Jack Thorne, whose previous credits include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Jeremy Herrin directs, based on the concept by Thorne, Bunny Christie and himself.

Initial casting includes Olatunji Ayofe, Danielle Henry, Maddie Holliday, Togo Igawa, Anoushka Lucas, Kevin McMonagle, Simon Startin, Luke Thallon, June Watson and Millicent Wong.

The National's Olivier Theatre will also open again this summer, with Michael Sheen in Under Milk Wood. Performances of Under Milk Wood begin from 16 June.

After Life is at the Dorfman Theatre from 2 June - 24 July.

^{Photo: National Theatre (Photo by Paul Miller on Flickr)}