Cast including Tracy Letts, Monica Dolan and Ciarán Hinds to join Paul Mescal in National Theatre’s repertory shows

Repertory theatre will return to the Lyttelton Theatre at the National in summer and autumn 2027 – and more names have joined the initiative.

The two shows will mark 50 years since the auditorium was originally designed with the repertory system in mind.

As already revealed, Paul Mescal will star across two productions in the season, appearing first as Biff Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman and subsequently as Michael Carney in Tom Murphy’s A Whistle in the Dark.

Death of a Salesman will be directed by Rebecca Frecknall, featuring Tracy Letts in his UK stage acting debut as Willy Loman alongside Monica Dolan as Linda Loman. The pair will only be appearing in Salesman.

A Whistle in the Dark will be directed by Caitríona McLaughlin with music composed by Renell Shaw, presented as a co-production between the National Theatre and Ireland’s Abbey Theatre.

The repertory ensemble cast across both productions includes Peter Corboy as Howard and Hugo Carney, Eimhin Fitzgerald Doherty as Stanley and Des Carney, Ryan Donaldson as Iggy Carney, Ciarán Hinds as Uncle Ben and Dada, Aisling Loftus as Miss Forsythe and Betty, and Julian Moore-Cook as Bernard and Mush.

Following its run on the South Bank, A Whistle in the Dark will transfer to the Abbey Theatre in Ireland from 13 to 30 October 2027.

Further details regarding the creative teams, additional casting, exact performance dates and ticket on-sale dates for both productions will be confirmed at a later stage.

Get an in-depth analysis of the new season with director Indhu Rubasingham in our free podcast:

See more about the National Theatre’s 2027 season in the guide below.