David Hare
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The National Theatre has announced its full schedule for the upcoming 2008-2009 season. Work by David Hare and Tom Stoppard are on tap as well as the London premiere of the Tony-winning August: Osage County, with its original Broadway cast intact.
The season starts with the world premiere of Hare’s Gethsemane, a drama about political fund-raising and the public life in Britain. The cast includes Anthony Calf, Tamsin Greig, Jessica Raine, Daniel Ryan, Stanley Townsend and Nicola Walker. The production will have set designs by Bob Crowley and costumes by Fotini Dimou, with lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Christopher Shutt. Previews begin November 4, with opening night set for November 11.
Deanna Dunagan and Amy Morton in
August: Osage County
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Staring previews on November 21, is Tracy Letts’ critically acclaimed August: Osage County, which comes to the National after runs in Chicago and on Broadway, where it is still playing. A dysfunctional family drama that is as hard-hitting as it is hilarious, the cast includes Deanna Dunagan and Rondi Reed, who both won Tony Awards for their performances, as well as Amy Morton, who received a Tony Award nomination. Directed by Anna D. Shapiro, who also earned a Tony Award, the play officially opens on November 26.
A new production of Tom Stoppard’s 1977 play Every Good Boy Deserves a Favour begins previews on January 12. Directed by Felix Barrett and Tom Morris, the piece involves a dissident who is locked up in an asylum on account of his refusal cooperation with the authorities. But sharing a cell with a lunatic who believes he’s surrounded by an orchestra soon tests the limits of the dissident’s sanity. The production features Southbank Sinfonia, Britain’s young professional orchestra, conducted by Simon Over. The creative team includes designs by Bob Crowley, with lighting by Bruno Poet, choreography by Maxine Doyle and sound by Christopher Shutt. Opening night is set for January 16.
Rounding out the season is Samuel Adamson’s new play Mrs. Affleck, which begins previews on January 20. A tragic tale of obsessive love that is set in 1950s England and modelled on Ibsen’s Little Eyolf, the cast includes Claire Skinner in the title role, with Naomi Frederick and Angus Wright. Opening night is set for January 27.