National Theatre’s Bold New Era: Stars, Premieres, and Groundbreaking Collaborations for 2025-2026
A New Chapter Begins
The National Theatre’s new creative director Indhu Rubasingham has revealed the theatre’s upcoming lineup of shows, promising an exciting year ahead with major classics returning to the National stage alongside brand-new works.
Star Power and World Premieres
The ambitious season includes 16 new productions, featuring 9 world premieres and a season of repertory theatre. The stellar cast lineup includes Monica Barbaro, Nicola Coughlan, Paul Mescal, Letitia Wright, Aidan Turner and James McArdle.
Innovative Collaborations
In a groundbreaking development, multi-Brit Award-winning artist Stormzy joins forces with the National Theatre. The artist expressed his enthusiasm, stating “I’ve been quietly falling in love with theatre for years. There’s a raw power in live performance that mirrors what we do in music. Working with Indhu and the National team feels like the perfect way to explore that creatively.”
Classical Reimagining
Indhu Rubasingham will direct Nima Taleghani’s exciting new version of Euripides’ ultimate tragedy. The production promises to be a unique interpretation, brought to life through rhythm, movement and music, featuring part verse and part spoken-word reworking of this ancient Greek classic. The show will run from 13 September to 1 November 2025.
International Partnerships
The theatre has established new collaborations with The Shed in Manhattan and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Rubasingham’s vision extends beyond traditional boundaries, focusing on “state-of-the-world plays rather than state-of-the-nation plays.” The initiative includes partnerships with international artists and plans for productions to tour UK theatres and schools, with some shows being adapted for educational presentations both in the UK and Brooklyn.
Looking Ahead
Among the upcoming highlights is John Millington Synge’s riveting story about a young man who turns a village upside down, scheduled to run from 4 December 2025 to 28 February 2026. The theatre’s infrastructure continues to evolve, with the Dorfman theatre reopening in June 2025 following urgent infrastructure work that began in mid-November 2024.
