Cate Blanchett, Nina Hoss, Lesley Manville, Francesca Mills, Sandra Oh, and Letitia Wright lead an incredible year of programming in 2026, as the National Theatre ramps up its local, national and global reach

The National Theatre today announces its full slate of programming for 2026 featuring world-class talent in both reinterpreted classics and ambitious new work. nationaltheatre.org.uk

Molière’s The Misanthrope

Multi-award winner Sandra Oh makes her National Theatre debut, alongside Paul Chahidi, in Martin Crimp’s refreshed adaptation of Molière’s biting social satire The Misanthrope directed by Indhu Rubasingham.

The 2026 season includes the exciting National Theatre debut of Golden Globe-winner Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) who will perform alongside Paul Chahidi (The Night Manager, Season 2) and Abigail Cruttenden (Ragdoll) in a refreshed adaptation of Molière’s The Misanthrope from Martin Crimp (Cyrano de Bergerac).

Directed by Indhu Rubasingham (Bacchae), this cutting new version of Molière’s dark comedy will be performed in the Lyttelton theatre from June. Written in contemporary verse, this biting adaptation will interrogate 21st century private relationships and public debate, with Molière’s infamous character – the misanthropic Alceste – here reimagined.

Electra / Persona

Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, Nina Hoss and Ella Lily Hyland star in Benedict Andrews’ new production Electra / Persona, fusing two iconic texts – Sophocles’ ancient myth Electra and Ingmar Bergman’s celebrated film Persona – into one theatrical event, with music by composer Hildur Guðnadóttir.

In August, director and adapter Benedict Andrews (A Streetcar Named Desire) has assembled a stellar cast for his National Theatre debut including Academy Award-winner Cate Blanchett (The Seagull) and Nina Hoss (Hedda), who will reunite following their celebrated performances in the critically acclaimed film Tár, alongside rising talent Ella Lily Hyland (Black Doves) in the world premiere of Electra / Persona.

Performed on the Lyttelton stage, with music from Oscar Award-winning composer Hildur Guðnadóttir (Joker), this new play is based on both Sophocles’ story of Electra from Greek mythology and Ingmar Bergman’s celebrated 1966 film Persona – exemplifying the National Theatre’s commitment to re-examining classic stories in new forms. Creating a charged dialogue that spans over 2000 years between the ancient and the modern, this ambitious new production will interrogate the inner life of an actress and query how grief can make us strangers to ourselves.

The Story

Letitia Wright is joined by Aliyah Odoffin, Wilf Scolding, Ashley Thomas and Lorraine Toussaint in Tracey Scott Wilson’s newsroom thriller The Story, directed by Clint Dyer.

Aliyah Odoffin (All My Sons), Wilf Scolding (Andor), Ashley Thomas (Hostage), and Lorraine Toussaint (Orange is the New Black) will join Letitia Wright (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) in the previously announced revival of Tracey Scott Wilson’s adrenaline-fuelled newsroom thriller The Story, directed by National Theatre Associate Artist Clint Dyer. Starting previews in August on the Olivier stage, the cast also includes Tee Arnold (The Prince), Donna Augustin (St Marks), Antonia Bernath (Downton Abbey), Linseigh Green (The Drifter’s Girl), Jay Simpson (Black Mirror) and Unique Spencer (Top Boy).

War Horse

The global phenomenon War Horse, based on Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel and adapted by Nick Stafford, comes back home to the Olivier theatre after an acclaimed tour of the UK and Ireland and ahead of its 20th anniversary in 2027.

Adapted by Nick Stafford, and originally directed by Marianne Elliott (Angels in America) and Tom Morris (Dr Semmelweis), with set and costume design by Rae Smith (The Importance of Being Earnest) and featuring ground-breaking puppetry by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, War Horse has won more than 25 major awards including the Tony Award for ‘Best Play’ and has been seen by over 8.8 million people worldwide. This production is directed by Tom Morris alongside revival director Katie Henry. Casting to be announced.

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice

A brand-new production of Jim Cartwright’s The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, starring Francesca Mills and directed by Robert Hastie, marks the start of a new commitment to take work on tour directly following a mainstage run.

In the Dorfman in 2026, a new production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, a timeless and celebrated tale of small-town dreams from one of Britain’s most eminent writers, Jim Cartwright, will return to the National Theatre for the first time since its premiere in the then Cottesloe theatre in 1992, before embarking on a nationwide tour.

Playing from December 2026, with iconic music from the likes of Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Shirley Bassey and more, this new production will reunite Francesca Mills as Little Voice and director Robert Hastie following Hamlet in the Lyttelton last year.

Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists

The UK premiere of critically acclaimed Portuguese play Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists from celebrated writer and director Tiago Rodrigues, will perform in the Dorfman for a limited, one-week run in September.

Also in the Dorfman and for a limited, one-week run in September, famed Portuguese playwright and director of the Avignon Festival Tiago Rodrigues will make his National Theatre debut by bringing his compelling play Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists for its UK premiere. Described as “an invitation to grapple with what humanity is capable of” by the New York Times in 2022, this bold, politically charged production will be performed in its native Portuguese with English surtitles.

Some Woman

The world premiere of Some Woman – an exciting new play from celebrated British playwright Helen Edmundson, her first original play since Queen Anne in 2015.

Later this year, the Dorfman will also host the world premiere of Some Woman – the first new, original play from celebrated British playwright Helen Edmundson (Coram Boy) since Queen Anne in 2015. This play marks Edmundson’s return to the National Theatre following her acclaimed adaptation of Small Island, which debuted in 2019.

Samira

Samira by Carmen Nasr (Under the Shadow) will mark Nasr’s National Theatre debut in the Dorfman theatre, starting rehearsals in late 2026. Set at the height of the Arab Spring in 2011, a Middle Eastern Studies department in London is thrown into crisis when a young Syrian blogger vanishes without a trace. Inspired by true events, the show will be directed by Emily Burns (Dear Octopus) with casting to be announced.