National Theatre announces 2026 shows and casting plans

The National Theatre has announced further details of its 2026 season.

Plans include a new production of Summerfolk, directed by deputy artistic director Robert Hastie in the Olivier theatre.

Hastie’s Summerfolk will be a new version of Maxim Gorky’s play, adapted by Nina Raine and Moses Raine, running in the Olivier from 6 March to 29 April 2026, with a press night on 17 March.

The creative team includes Peter McKintosh as set and costume designer, Paul Pyant as lighting designer, Alexandra Faye Braithwaite as sound designer, Nicola T Chang as composer, Joseph Bisat Marshall as associate set designer, Bryony Jarvis-Taylor as casting director and Lilac Yosiphon as staff director.

Further casting and dates have been revealed for Marianne Elliott’s production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses in the Lyttelton Theatre, starring Monica Barbaro, Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner. We’ve covered in detail here.

In the Dorfman theatre, Anthony Lau will direct Terence Rattigan’s Man and Boy from 30 January to 14 March 2026 (press night 10 February), marking his National Theatre debut.

The cast includes Ben Daniels as Gregor Antonescu, Laurie Kynaston as Basil Anthony, Phoebe Campbell as Carol Penn, Isabella Laughland as Countess Antonescu, Malcolm Sinclair as Mark Herries and Leo Wan as David Beeston. The creative team features Georgia Lowe as set and costume designer, Elliot Griggs as lighting designer, Aline David as movement director, Angus MacRae as composer, Giles Thomas as sound designer, Martin Poile as casting director and Rachel Lemon as staff director.

Winsome Pinnock’s The Authenticator, directed by Miranda Cromwell, will run in the Dorfman theatre from 26 March to 9 May 2026, with a press night on 2 April. The cast includes Rakie Ayola as Abi, Sylvestra Le Touzel as Fenella Harford and Cherrelle Skeete as Marva.

The creative team comprises Jon Bausor as set designer, Kinnetia Isidore as costume designer, Aideen Malone as lighting designer, Tingying Dong as sound designer, Femi Temowo as composer, Shelley Maxwell as movement director, Alastair Coomer CDG as casting director, Hazel Holder as voice coach and Dubheasa Lanipekun as staff director.

Hastie’s Hamlet, with Hiran Abeysekera in the title role, will play at BAM’s Harvey Theater in New York from 19 April to 17 May 2026.

Plans for the production, which opened in the Lyttelton earlier this year, marks the beginning of a multi-year partnership between the National Theatre and BAM, America’s oldest performing arts centre. Alongside performances, the collaboration will include education and outreach initiatives with local schools in Brooklyn and a free exhibition exploring Hamlet’s legacy at BAM’s Rudin Family Gallery.

Tickets for Summerfolk, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Man and Boy and The Authenticator go on general sale at noon on 23 October.

Listen to a free exclusive WhatsOnStage Podcast about the season here: