National Theatre shows in London

Olivier Award winner Hiran Abeysekera (The Father and the Assassin) stars in a stunning new adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, in this new play by Anupama Chandrasekhar. Experience the story of Mowgli, a wild child raised by the animals of the jungle, in this epic, colourful production that brings Kipling's iconic jungle setting to life with jaw-dropping, life-sized puppets. Coming this Christmas, The Jungle Book is a piece of theatrical marvel that the whole family can fall in love with.

Tennessee Williams's rarely performed masterpiece is a haunting story about family, trauma, and truth, in which wealthy widow Violet Venable will do anything to protect her late son Sebastian's reputation, even if it means silencing her niece Catharine, who has an entirely different recollection of the events of Sebastian's death the summer past. Michael Grandage returns to the National Theatre after more than 15 years to direct Emma Corrin and Harriet Walter in this sharp and brutal one-act play that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout the performance.

This provocative new play from Helen Edmundson is directed by Blanche McIntyre and stars Anne-Marie Duff as Julie Robson, a woman who is constantly overlooked until a chance encounter on a station platform forces her to take a stand against the systems that shape and define the world. Driven by thought-provoking questions about what it means to raise your voice, this is an unmissable play among the National Theatre's powerful slate of 2026 plays.

Bernardine Evaristo's best-selling novel comes to the stage for the first time in this riveting adaptation by Natasha Gordon. Spanning six decades of life from Antigua to modern-day London, Mr Loverman follows seventy-four-year-old Barrington Walker, an upstanding member of his Hackney community who has secretly been having an affair with his best friend Morris for the past sixty years. Danny Sapani stars as the irresistible, charming Barry in this funny, heartwarming, and life-affirming exploration of the British Caribbean community.

Francesca Mills stars in this new production of acclaimed British dramatist Jim Cartwright's modern classic, directed by Robert Hastie. Mills plays Little Voice, who sings in the sanctuary of her bedroom until she's forced into the spotlight and made to confront the perils that come with fame and stardom. Revived multiple times and adapted into film, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is a powerful, heartrending story that has been enthralling audiences for decades.

Rebecca Frecknall directs a new staging of Arthur Miller's Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning Death of a Salesman, widely considered one of the greatest American plays. Follow tragic everyman Willy Loman, a despondent salesman losing his grip on reality, on the last day of his life, in a scathing deconstruction of the American Dream. It features a star-studded cast, including Paul Mescal, Monica Dohan, and Tracy Letts in his UK stage acting debut.

Cherished British comedians Mawaan Rizwan and George Fouracres star as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in this revival of Tom Stoppard's classic absurdist comedy. Follow the bumbling duo as they wander aimlessly through the background of famous tragedy Hamlet, in a dizzying tale that explores free will, existentialism, and the absurdity of fate with all of Stoppard's signature wit, cleverness, and humour.

Since 1957, West Side Story has been enchanting and enthralling audiences with its heartrending score, unforgettable characters, and modern-day take on Romeo and Juliet, set against a brutal gang war in Manhattan's Upper West Side. Follow the devastating love story of Tony and Maria, told through beloved songs such as 'Maria', 'Tonight', and 'America', and get ready for a timeless story of love and violence that has stood the test of time. Now London audiences get to experience it all over again in this highly anticipated revival co-directed by Marianne Elliott and Miranda Cromwell.

The Great Indaba is inspired by the true story of an extraordinary meeting that took place in South Africa in May 1997 and helped pave the way for the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Dramatising the encounters between Nelson Mandela and the Northern Irish delegation, it asks the question: How do warring factions overcome years of bloodshed to achieve peace? Find out in this powerful, inspiring new play written by Moira Buffini and directed by Indhu Rubasingham.

Rising from obscure Whip to Prime Minister in record time, John Major took over from Margaret Thatcher during a pivotal moment for the UK. Three-time Olivier Award winner James Graham explores his story in this bold new political drama directed by Jeremy Herrin, told with Graham's signature wit, nuance, and thoughtfulness when it comes to blending history with powerful storytelling. Don't miss this new political drama that asks a question that feels just as urgent to modern-day Britain: what does true leadership look like during times of change?

This new British musical tells an original and moving love story which frames and incorporates the iconic, beloved songs of Grammy and Brit Award-winning singer, songwriter, musician and producer Joan Armatrading, one of Britain's most enduring and distinctive performers. Written by Iman Qureshi and directed by Phyllida Lloyd, Glorious Madness is a bold and romantic musical that's sure to capture your heart.

British-Lebanese writer Carmen Nasr (Under the Shadow) makes her National Theatre debut with this searing and political new play inspired by true events. A group of London academics find themselves thrown into turmoil when the young Syrian blogger they've been following disappears in Damascus during the Arab Spring. Emily Burns directs this harrowing original play that explores authenticity, political upheaval and identity.

As part of the National Theatre's 2027 season comes a new political family drama from Oladipo Agboluaje, tracing a rich but fractured Lagos family across one of the most unsettled stretches of Nigeria's recent past. Directed by Lucian Msamati (Amadeus) and starring three-time Emmy winning actor Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) in her National Theatre debut, this brutal black comedy explores the corruption, power struggles, and changing social hierarchies of post-colonial Nigeria.

Tom Murphy's powerful, harrowing play follows a criminal family of Irish immigrants settled in Coventry, exploring cycles of violence, family and tribal loyalty, and generational brutality that's as inescapable as it is destructive. Paul Mescal stars as Michael Carney in this bold new revival directed by Caitríona McLaughlin, returning to the National Theatre for its exciting, ambitious new season. Don't miss the return of an Irish masterpiece that speaks just as boldly to us as when it was written.

Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) will make her National Theatre debut in this new production of the award-winning play by David Hare, in which former secret agent Susan Traherne struggles to adjust to a mundane life in the aftermath of the Second World War. Former National Theatre Director Richard Eyre directs, marking a celebrated reunion between Eyre and Hare. The play will be staged ahead of its 50th anniversary and Hare's 80th birthday. Don't miss this powerful, harrowing revival that feels deeply resonant with modern Britain.