The National Theatre in London has announced a bold new season under the leadership of Indhu Rubasingham, signalling a fresh chapter for the institution.
Starting in August 2025 at South Bank, the upcoming lineup aims to offer wider global access to world-class theatre, alongside a renewed focus on education and artistic innovation.
The new season features 16 productions, jncluding nine world premieresand a strong emphasis on repertory theatre. Several prominent names will make their National Theatre debuts, including Letitia Wright, Paul Mescal, Monica Barbaro, Nicola Coughlan, and Aidan Turner.
They’ll be joined by returning talent such as Hiran Abeysekera, Ben Daniels, Lesley Manville, and Siobhán McSweeney in a programme built around the theme of “heritage and renewal.”
The season will pair reimagined classics with contemporary storytelling, while expanding outreach through school tours and new educational initiatives.
“The National Theatre is a beacon of creativity, humanity and possibilities,” Rubasingham wrote on Instagram. “This is just the beginning—a flavour of what’s to come.”
The season opens on September 1 with “Bacchae”, directed by Rubasingham herself. Other highlights include “The Story” starring Letitia Wright, “Hamlet”, “The Playboy of the Western World” featuring Nicola Coughlan, and a repertory pairing of “A Whistle in the Dark” and “Death of a Salesman” starring Paul Mescal.
A world premiere collaboration between Rubasingham and award-winning artist Stormzy is also part of the programme.