Katherine Kingsley to star in ‘The Witches'

Lucy Kirkwood and Dave Malloy adapt the Roald Dahl story into a family-friendly musical, with a world premiere scheduled at the National Theatre for winter 2023.

Discover the latest details on three new productions at the National Theatre through 2023: The Witches, The Effect, and The Father and the Assassin.

"‘I’m thrilled that the National Theatre and Roald Dahl Story Company are coming together for the first time to bring one of Dahl’s most enduring stories to the Olivier stage. This extraordinary, exciting production of The Witches with Lucy Kirkwood’s brilliant, witty book and Lyndsey Turner’s ambitious vision is the culmination of many years of development at the National Theatre’s exceptional New Work Department," said Rufus Norris, the National Theatre's artistic director.

Roald Dahl’s The Witches follows a boy and his grandmother who lives in a world riddled with witches in every country. The Grand High Witch rules over the witches, and plans to turn the children into mice. Lucy Kirkwood writes the book and lyrics, with music and lyrics by Dave Malloy.

Lyndsey Turner will direct Katherine Kingsley as the Grand High Witch, with a cast including Daniel Rigby, Julie Armstrong, Chrissie Bhima, Zoe Birkett, Daniele Coombe, Molly-May Gardiner, Tiffany Graves, Tania Mathurin, Jacob Maynard, Laura Medforth and Ben Redfern.

Lizzie Clachan provides set and costume design, with choreography by Stephen Mear, lighting design by Bruno Poet, and co-sound designers Alexander Caplen and Ian Dickinson.

The Witches begins performances on 7 November in the Olivier Theatre, with an opening night on 21 November.

As part of the season, Jamie Lloyd will direct Paapa Essiedu and Taylor Russell in Lucy Prebble’s The Effect, with performances in the Lyttelton Theatre from 1 August, and an opening night on 9 August. The Effect follows Connie and Tristan, two volunteers who find love in a drug trial. Soutra Gilmour provides set and costume design, with lighting design by Jon Clark, and sound design by George Dennis.

Indhu Rubasingham directs the Life of Pi award-winning actor Hiran Abeysekera as Nathuram Godse, and Paul Bazely as Mahatma Gandhi in The Father and the Assassin. Set and costume design is by Rajha Shakiry, lighting design by Oliver Fenwick, and sound design by Alexander Caplen. The show plays in the Olivier Theatre from 8 September, with an opening night on 14 September, and performances to 14 October.

Photo credit: Katherine Kingsley (Photo by Mark Nash)