National Theatre

This week we're saying a heartfelt goodbye to our outgoing Director, Rufus Norris, who is leaving the NT after an extraordinary 10 years! ?? ? Rufus has overseen the production of over 170 groundbreaking shows during his time here, with his final programmed production,?'End' by David Eldridge, set to debut in the Dorfman theatre this November. ? Throughout his tenure, he has championed bold initiatives, from bringing fresh, groundbreaking work to the stages to fostering greater representation both on and offstage. Rufus has also been a driving force in making theatre more sustainable and expanding the NT's global presence, reaching an extraordinary 28 million across the world. ? From everyone at the NT, a HUGE thank you, Rufus??? ? We’re excited to now embark on the next chapter of the NT’s journey, led by our new Co-Chief Executives, Indhu Rubasingham and Kate Varah! ? ?? Cameron Slater

Our Executive Director and Co-CEO, Kate Varah has joined Culture and Creative Industries Minister, Chris Bryant, on DCMS's latest episode of its First Draft podcast discussing how the NT is?offering the widest access to high quality theatre in the world, the importance of a creative education, and their all-time favourite theatre experiences. ??? ? ?? To listen to the full conversation, check out: https://lnkd.in/ewsRMxPT

Happy World Theatre Day! ?? ? Today, we celebrate the transformative power of theatre, a space where stories come alive, emotions are shared, and connections are made across cultures and communities. Theatre is more than just an art form—it's a mirror to society and a platform for sharing unforgettable stories with audiences all around the world. ? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ??????????!?? ? What's your favourite memory of the National Theatre? What was the first production you saw? Have you ever been part of a National Theatre production? ? Let us know in the comments below ?? #WorldTheatreDay

?? Join the NT team! We are currently recruiting for a series of exciting jobs that will contribute to our mission to creating unforgettable experiences, fostering creativity, and delivering unparalleled access to the best of theatre for audiences around the world. ?? Check out our current vacancies here: https://lnkd.in/eq8XMDph

This year marks a big milestone for ??????????????????????! Our flagship youth theatre programme celebrates 30 years of sparking creativity, boosting confidence, and building community. We're incredibly proud to continue bringing together some of the UK’s most exciting contemporary writers with the brilliant theatre-makers of tomorrow.??? ? ?? Youth theatre is more than just a stepping stone for future actors – it's a vital space where young people learn to express themselves, embrace new challenges, and build skills that will stay with them for life. Whether it’s the first rung on the ladder to a professional stage career or a transformative experience that helps a young person grow into a confident, resilient individual, the impact of youth theatre is immeasurable.? ? ?? Over the past 30 years, 125,000 young people have participated in Connections, with many going on to make waves in the industry – from acclaimed actors like David Oyelowo, Keira Knightley, and John Boyega, to playwright Chris Bush, and even our very own Deputy Artistic Director, Robert Hastie.? ? ?? This year, over 5,500 young people from across the UK are performing brand new plays at 33 theatres nationwide – showcasing their talent, passion, and creativity on stages big and small. The festival will culminate with a special celebration at the National Theatre in June.? ? We couldn’t be more excited to see where the next 30 years will take us. All the best to this year’s cohort!? ? ?? To find out more about Connections, check out: https://bit.ly/4iJn7uz #NationalTheatreConnections #YouthTheatre

We’re celebrating a very special Olivier Award ?? Our outgoing Director, Rufus Norris, will receive a Special Award for his services to the theatre industry at this year's Olivier Awards with Mastercard. Following a 10-year tenure overseeing over 170 productions, Rufus has led crucial efforts to stage more new work, increase representation and make theatre more sustainable, as well as increasing the National Theatre's worldwide reach, now standing at a whopping 19 million. This year's Olivier Awards with Mastercard will take place on 6 April. The highlights will air on ITV and Magic Radio the same evening. ?? Cameron Slater #OlivierAwards

?? Join the NT team! We are currently recruiting for a series of exciting jobs that will contribute to our mission to creating unforgettable experiences, fostering creativity, and delivering unparalleled access to the best of theatre for audiences around the world. ?? Check out our current vacancies here: https://lnkd.in/eq8XMDph

We're so excited about the return of James Graham’s smash-hit production of Dear England which opened in the Olivier yesterday! ? ? ???? The Guardian ???? The Times ???? Evening Standard ? Directed by Rupert Goold, Dear England tells the uplifting, at times heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring story of Gareth Southgate’s revolutionary tenure as England manager in this gripping examination of nation and game. Featuring a brilliant cast including Gwilym Lee, Liz White, and others, the production, which won ‘Best New Play’ at the 2024 Olivier Awards, has been updated following last year’s UEFA EURO tournament to reflect Southgate’s final chapter as England manager. ?? Dear England is at the Olivier theatre until 24 May 2025, followed by a 4-week run at the Lowry in Salford from 29 May to 29 June 2025: bit.ly/4jDcieA ?? Marc Brenner

Here we go…Here We Are! ?? ? The brilliant cast of our forthcoming UK premiere of Stephen Sondheim's Here We Are started rehearsals at the NT earlier this week. ? Joining this unmissable musical comedy are Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Chumisa Dornford-May, Richard Fleeshman, Harry Hadden-Paton, Cameron Johnson, Jane Krakowski, Martha Plimpton, Tracie Bennett, Denis O’Hare, Rory Kinnear and Paulo Szot. Welcome to the NT! ? ?? Here We Are is showing in the Lyttelton theatre from 23 April to 28 June 2025: https://bit.ly/4fevigb ? ?? Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Yesterday we welcomed Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and Minister Stephanie Peacock to the NT. We took them on a special behind the scenes tour of the NT?showcasing the incredible work being done here every day to inspire creativity, artistic expression and skills in young people. The visit coincided with Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s announcement of a new programme to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which we’re proud to be a part of alongside Imperial War Museums. We are creating a new film called ‘The Next Morning’ written by James Graham, focusing on the hopes, dreams and ambitions of young people after the Second World War and what this means for young people today. We will also run a year-long schools engagement programme as part of our nationwide tour of?‘Dear England’,?to inspire creativity in young people right across the country and deepen their understanding of how our shared history shapes the present and future. ?? More info about ‘The Next Morning’ can be found here:?https://bit.ly/3DQMxHE ?? Gunter Hofer