Yahoo Lifestyle Clive Owen, Saskia Reeves Lead Quartet of World Premieres at U.K. National Theatre
The U.K.’s National Theatre is doubling down on star power for its upcoming season, with Clive Owen, “Slow Horses” actor Saskia Reeves and “Saltburn” star Rosamund Pike headlining a slate of four world premieres set to bow in 2025.
Owen (“Closer”) returns to the National alongside Reeves in “End,” the final installment of David Eldridge’s relationship trilogy, directed by Rachel O’Riordan. The production marks Owen’s first appearance on the National’s stage in over a decade. As previously revealed, Pike will make her National Theatre debut in “Inter Alia,” reuniting “Prima Facie” writer Suzie Miller with director Justin Martin. The legal drama, which examines modern masculinity and motherhood, will also feature Jamie Glover and Jasper Talbot in their National Theatre debuts.
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BAFTA winner Adeel Akhtar (“Fool Me Once”) will headline “The Estate,” the debut play from emerging writer Shaan Sahota. Daniel Raggett directs this political drama about a leadership contest that threatens to expose family secrets. “Game of Thrones” alum Tom Wlaschiha joins previously announced Juliet Stevenson in “The Land of the Living,” penned by former Young Vic artistic director David Lan and directed by Stephen Daldry. The post-WWII drama explores memory and morality through the lens of a complex relationship between a UN relief worker and a child displaced by the Nazis.
The announcements come as part of outgoing director Rufus Norris’ final season. “I am delighted that the last four shows in my final season are all world premieres,” said Norris. “This cements a decade of work by National Theatre’s New Work Department to champion and support new stories told by world-class theatre-makers.”
The Dorfman theatre, currently closed for infrastructure work, will reopen in June with the 30th anniversary of Connections, the National’s youth theatre program whose alumni include David Oyelowo, Rose Ayling-Ellis, and Keira Knightley.
Performance dates are set with “Inter Alia” running July 10-Sept. 13 in the Lyttelton; “The Estate” playing July 9-Aug. 23 in the Dorfman; “The Land of the Living” running Sept. 9-Nov. 1; and “End” beginning performances Nov. 13.
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