National announce New 2004 Productions

National announce New 2004 Productions

Nicholas Hytner The National Theatre Director, has confirmed some new productions for 2004, including new platforms.

In the Olivier Theatre

Cyrano De Bergerac
by Edmond Rostand, in a new version by Derek Mahon
(Previews from 10 April, opens 19 April, Booking to 24 June 2004 ). Directed by Howard Davies,set designs by William Dudley, costumes by John Bright, lighting by Paul Anderson.
The cast includes Stephen Rea in the title role, Claire Price as Roxane and Zubin Varla as Christian, Anthony O'Donnell as Ragueneau, Malcolm Storry as De Guiche, with Thomas Arnold, Stephen Berkeley-White, Mark Bonnar, David Collings, Gildas Diquero, Joanne Fong, Antonia Grove, Dermot Kerrigan, Pascal Langdale, Miranda Lind, Mairead McKinley, Katherine Manners, Simon Merrells, Katy Odey, Harry Peacock, William Rycroft, Daniel Tuite and Tam Ward.
Swordsman, poet, philosopher, Cyrano de Bergerac. His musketeer-heroics combine with rapier wit, but the bravado belies a passionate love for his exquisite cousin, Roxane. Too ugly to win her for himself, or so he thinks, he agrees to woo her on behalf of another. His tender verse gives voice to the inarticulate, dashing Christian, gaining him her heart just before both men depart for war.

Measure For Measure
By William Shakespeare
(Previews from 17 May, Opens 27 May, Booking to 31 July 2004) Directed by Simon McBurney,in a collaboration between the National Theatre and Complicite. Costumes by Christina Cunningham, lighting by Paul Anderson
The Cast includes: Naomi Frederick as Isabella, Paul Rhys as Angelo,Toby Jones as Lucio and Angus Wright.
What happens when a Duke hands over his power to his second-in-command and wanders the streets in disguise to watch as events unfold? What if that second-in-command pursues his obsession to purify society of sexual corruption, yet finds himself caught up in his own erotic dream? And what if a young man finds himself condemned to death for fornication, the price of his life is his sister's virginity, and his sister is a nun?

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum
book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
(Opening in July 2004)
Directed by Edward Hall
Starring Desmond Barrit as Pseudolus.

Stuff Happens
a new play by David Hare
(Opening in Sep 2004)
Directed by Nicholas Hytner
. In a letter to President Clinton on January 26th, 1998 the neo-conservative group Project for a New American Century urged the adoption of a new strategy "that would secure the interests of the US and our friends and allies around the world." The 40 signatories, who included Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, wrote: "That strategy should aim, above all, at the removal of Saddam Hussein's regime from power....That needs to become the aim of American foreign policy." On March 20th 2003 a coalition led by the United States and Great Britain began military operations to depose Saddam Hussein. In association with the National Theatre Studio, David Hare will develop a play that responds to the recent war, its causes and its fall-out.

His Dark Materials
Based on the novels by Philip Pullman, adapted by Nicholas Wright, will return to the Olivier from December 2004 - March 2005. The cast is to be announced.

In the Lyttelton Theatre

The Permanent Way
by David Hare
(3 Apr to 1 May 2004)
transfers from the Cottesloe

The History Boys
by Alan Bennett
(Previews from 8 May, Opens 18 May 2004)
Directed by Nicholas Hytner, designed by Bob Crowley, with lighting by Mark Henderson.
Starring Frances de la Tour.
A new comic drama about adolescent schoolboys. A group of bright, funny sixth-form boys in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university. A maverick English teacher at odds with the young and shrewd supply teacher. A headmaster obsessed with results, and a history teacher who thinks he's a fool.

Iphigenia At Aulis
by Euripdes, translated by Don Taylor
(Previews from 12 Jun, Opens 22 Jun 04)
Directed by Katie Mitchell, designed by Hildegarde Bechtler, with lighting by Chris Davey.
The Greek fleet assembles in the bay of Aulis in readiness to launch an attack on Troy, but the wind suddenly drops and the ships stand idle. The army blame their leader who, in danger of losing his command, panics and jumps at a solution: to sacrifice his own daughter to the gods, in return for a favourable wind. Just how far will a leader go in order to save face and secure a military victory in the East?

The House Of Bernarda Alba
Federico Garcia Lorca, in a new version by David Hare
(Dates to be confirmed!!)
Directed by Howard Davies.

In the Cottesloe Theatre

The Pillowman
Extends its run by three weeks, now finishing on Saturday 17 April 2004

Sing Yer Heart Out For The Lads
by Roy Williams
(Previews from 23 Apr, Opens 30 Apr 2004, Booking to 26 Jun 2004 )
Directed by Paul Miller, designed by Hayden Griffin, with lighting by Andy Phillips
Saturday 7 October 2000. England v Germany. The King George v The Duke of York. Keegan resigns and Barry plays a blinder. Tensions erupt in a South London pub as England lose again.

Lifegame
by Keith Johnstone
(5 to 13 May 2004)
Produced by Improbable Theatre, directed by Phelim McDermott and Lee Simpson, designed by Julian Crouch with lighting by Colin Grenfell.
The cast includes Niall Ashdown, Angela Clerkin, Julian Crouch, Guy Dartnell, Stella Duffy, Phelim McDermott, Nick Powell, Lee Simpson and guests.
Each night a different guest is interviewed on stage about their life. As their story unfolds, it's spontaneously transformed into a piece of theatre - never seen before, never to be seen again.

The False Servant
by Pierre Marivaux, in a new version by Martin Crimp
(Previews from 26 May 2004, Opens 1 Jun 2004)
Directed by Jonathan Kent, designed by Paul Brown, with lighting by Mark Henderson,
The cast includes David Collings, Adrian Scarborough
Lust and avarice trample on the finer feelings of love in this subversive take on sexual manners and the cruelties of courtship. The man thinks that marriage is simply a matter of money and property. But just how far should the woman go to prove him wrong?

The Night Season
by Rebecca Lenkiewicz
(Dates to be confirmed!!)

If This is a Man
Antony Sher will perform his own one-man show based on the book by Primo Levi, directed by Richard Wilson.
(Dates to be confirmed!!)

The Mandate
by Nikolai Erdman, in a new version by Declan Donnellan
(Dates to be confirmed!!)

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Booking for all performances of THE PERMANENT WAY in the Lyttelton and THE PILLOWMAN in the Cottesloe, by phone, in person or online, will open on Monday 9 February.

Phone/online booking for Cyrano De Bergerac; Measure For Measure; The History Boys ; Iphigenia At Aulis; Sing Yer Heart Out For The Lads ; Lifegame ; The False Servant; and for the return of HIS DARK MATERIALS opens on Wednesday 10 March 2004.

************

NEW PLATFORMS ANNOUNCED.........

6pm (45 mins) unless stated.......

Dr Rowan Williams & Philip Pullman
15 March 04, Olivier Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Philip Pullman, author of His Dark Materials, continue their conversation which began on Channel 4, when they discussed whether consumerism and the mass media have created a crisis of childhood.

Alan Ayckbourn
22 March 04, Cottesloe
On publication of The Crafty Art of Playmaking in paperback, Alan Ayckbourn reveals further tricks of the trade and talks to Paul Allen, author of the Pocket Guide to Ayckbourn's work. [Booksigning]

Will & Lyra: Dominic Cooper & Anna Maxwell Martin
26 March 04, Olivier
As the run of His Dark Materials draws to a close, the young actors at the centre of the action talk about playing two of the best-loved characters in modern fiction.

Alain de Botton
30 March 04, Cottesloe
The bestselling author talks about Status Anxiety, a highly entertaining and thought-provoking examination of the universal anxiety about what others think of us. [Booksigning]

Julian Fellowes
6 April 04, Cottesloe
Actor and writer Julian Fellowes, Oscar-winner for the screenplay of Gosford Park, talks about his novel, Snobs, which is set against a background of aristocracy and actors at the end of the 20th century. [Booksigning]

Jocelyn Herbert at the National
7 April 04, Lyttelton
To mark the opening of the exhibition celebrating the late Jocelyn Herbert's stage designs, collaborators from her distinguished career recall her work and her lasting influence on the theatre.

John Gielgud's Letters
14 April 04 / 2.30pm-4pm, Lyttelton, 5 UKP
John Gielgud was born on 14 April 1904. To mark his centenary and the publication of Gielguds Letters, this is the first reading of his frank and enthralling correspondence which gives a vivid picture of his life, and views of Olivier, Redgrave, Ashcroft, Evans and Hitchcock amongst others. He wrote almost every day, beginning in the 1920s with letters to his mother and continuing until a few days before his death in 2000.

Discussion on The Permanent Way
16 April 04 , Lyttelton
Maureen Kavanagh and Linda di Lieto both lost their sons in recent train disasters. Alongside their solicitor, Louise Christian, they discuss the important issues of rail safety raised by The Permanent Way with director Max Stafford-Clark. Also invited is novelist Nina Bawden, who lost her husband in the Potters Bar crash.

Michael Gambon
23 April 04 / 2.30pm-3.30pm, Lyttelton
The Great Gambon, as he was dubbed by Ralph Richardson, talks about his work and illustrious career, on publication of Mel Gussows Gambon: A Life in Acting. [Booksigning]

Peter Hall
29 April 04, Olivier Peter Hall returns to the National to talk about his latest book, Shakespeares Advice to the Players, which celebrates a passionate understanding of the verse and marks fifty years of directing the canon. [Booksigning]?

Improbable Theatre on Lifegame
10 May 04 / 5.30pm, Cottesloe
Improbable Theatre's Julian Crouch, Phelim McDermott and Lee Simpson talk about the companys work and how Lifegame is developed and altered each night.

Simon Gray
11 May 04, Cottesloe
Playwright Simon Gray reads from his Smoking Diaries, begun when he was 65, which reflect on a life filled with cigarettes (continuing), alcohol (stopped), several triumphs and many more disasters, plus shame, adultery, friendship and love. [Booksigning]

Michael Pennington & Stephen Unwin
12 May 04, Cottesloe
Actor Michael Pennington and director Stephen Unwin talk about their Pocket Guide to Ibsen, Chekhov and Strindberg, a comprehensive historical and theatrical analysis of the three great founders of naturalism. [Booksigning]

Roy Williams & Paul Miller on Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads
17 May 04, Cottesloe
The writer and director talk about the new production of this acclaimed and controversial play in the Cottesloe.

Alan Bennett on The History Boys
25 May 04, Lyttelton
To celebrate the opening of his new play at the National, Alan Bennett talks about The History Boys and answers questions about his work. [Booksigning]

Nigel Hawthorne on Stage
28 May, Lyttelton
Nigel Hawthorne's extensive stage work is celebrated in Kathleen Rileys new book. It charts his early career in South Africa, discovery by Joan Littlewood and his towering performances in Shadowlands, The Madness of George III and King Lear. Colleagues gather to recall the work of a great man of the theatre. [Booksigning]

Joan Bakewell
21 June 04, Cottesloe
Joan Bakewell talks about her autobiography, The Centre of the Bed, which covers her eclectic career in the arts and broadcasting, and explores the extraordinary changes in womens roles during her lifetime. [Booksigning]

Channels (Hungary)
2.30pm-4.30pm (approx), Cottesloe 3·50 ukp
Rehearsed readings of four contemporary Hungarian plays in specially commissioned translations from four young British playwrights. Part of Magyar Magic: Hungary in Focus 2004, a year-long celebration of Hungarian culture in the UK.
"The Stonewatchers" 17 June by Janos Hay, translated by Phil Porter
"The Fourth Gate" 18 June by Peter Karpati, translated by Dennis Kelly
"Car Thieves" 24 June by Akos Nemeth, translated by Ché Walker
"Portugal" 25 June by Zoltan Egressy, translated by Ryan Craig

The National Theatre: Brutalist Beauty?
22 June 04 6pm, Cottesloe, 3.50 ukp
Theatre practitioners square up to architects to debate the merits and misfortunes of the National Theatre building.

Architours at the National
19 June 10.15am; 22 June 10.15am, 12.30pm, 3pm, 4.30pm; 26 June 10.15am
5 ukp
Architects join NT guides for special tours, looking at both the inside and outside of Lasduns building from a design, structural and practical point of view.