National Theatre announces full plans for 2026 programme

Ahead of the production's 20th anniversary in 2027, the multi-award-winning play War Horse will return to the National Theatre this Spring. Based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel, the play is adapted by Nick Stafford and was originally directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris. War Horse made its debut in 2007 and has since gone on to play on stages across the world. It heads to the Olivier stage from 16 May to 30 July 2026.

At the Dorfman Theatre, several productions will take place throughout the year. Francesca Mills, best known for her screen roles in The Witcher: Blood Origin and Sneakerhead, will star in a new production of Jim Cartwright's The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. The production, which Robert Hastie will direct, opens in December before embarking on a tour across the UK.

During the Autumn, Tiago Rodrigues will make his National Theatre debut with the UK premiere of Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists planned in September. The show will be presented in Portuguese with English subtitles for a limited one-week run.

Audiences can also look forward to the world premiere of Some Woman, which will mark Helen Edmundson’s first original play since Queen Anne, and later in the year, Carmen Nasr’s Samira, which will be directed by Emily Burns.

In the summer, a new adaptation of The Misanthrope is planned. Golden Globe winner Sandra Oh will make her National Theatre debut in the production at the Lyttelton Theatre, alongside Paul Chahidi and Abigail Cruttenden. Indhu Rubasingham will direct, and Martin Crimp adapts the play, which will run from 16 June to 1 August.

Cate Blanchett and Nina Hoss will reunite on the stage following their work together on the film Tárin the World Premiere of Electra / Persona. They will be joined by Ella Lily Hyland. Benedit Andrews will adapt and direct the play, which draws on Sophocles’ story of Electra from Greek mythology and Ingmar Bergman’s 1966 film Persona. Music for the production will be composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir. Further details about this production are to be announced.

On the Olivier stage in August, Clint Dyer will direct The Story. This newsroom drama follows an ambitious Black reporter who defies her editor to pursue a controversial lead that will raise questions around race, power, and journalism ethics. Letitia Wright, who has starred in Black Panther, will make her National Theatre debut in the production that begins on 27 August.