The National Theatre has announced its 2027 programming, featuring a major revival of West Side Story, Paul Mescal starring in Death of a Salesman, and Emilia Clarke in Plenty. Artistic director Indhu Rubasingham presented the season at the theatre's annual press conference, outlining a diverse lineup across its three stages.
West Side Story and Major Revivals Headline the Olivier Stage
The splashiest announcement is the winter 2027 revival of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's West Side Story, the first major London production of the classic New York gangland take on Romeo & Juliet. It will be directed by Marianne Elliott alongside Miranda Cromwell, who previously partnered on the Young Vic's Death of a Salesman.
Before that, the Olivier stage hosts a rare revival of Tennessee Williams' Suddenly Last Summer (Feb 19-Apr 24 2027), starring Emma Corrin, Arty Froushan, and Harriet Walter, directed by Michael Grandage. Following this, playwright James Graham reunites with director Jeremy Herrin for Major (spring/summer 2027), a drama about John Major's rise from whip to PM and his role in Britain's relationship with Europe. The season continues with The Great Indaba (autumn 2027), Moira Buffini's new drama about the Good Friday Agreement negotiations in South Africa.
Lyttelton and Dorfman Stages Feature Star-Studded Productions
In the Lyttelton, Natasha Gordon adapts Bernadine Evaristo's novel Mr Loverman (Feb 25-Apr 17 2027), starring Danny Sapiani as Barry, a pillar of the Black Hackney community in a clandestine 60-year relationship with his best friend Morris (Gary Beadle), directed by Paulette Randall. This is followed by a fiftieth anniversary revival of David Hare's Plenty (spring 2027), starring Emilia Clarke. The year ends with a revival of Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (winter 2027), featuring Mawaan Rizwan and George Fouracres.
The Dorfman stage opens with Carmen Nasr's Samira (Feb 4-Mar 13 2027), starring May El Calamawy, followed by Glorious Madness (spring 2027), a new musical based on Joan Armatrading's songs, written by Iman Qureshi and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. The final show is The Adeyemis – A Family Saga (winter 2027), a new play by Oladipo Agboluaje, directed by Lucian Msamati in his directorial debut, starring Uzo Aduba.
Death of a Salesman Rep Season and Punchdrunk's Ghostlight
As previously flagged, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman will be revived next autumn with Paul Mescal as Biff. Notably, Tracy Letts will make his UK stage debut playing Willy Loman, in Rebecca Frecknall's production. The show will play in rep with Tom Murphy's A Whistle in the Dark, also starring Mescal. Rubasingham indicated this rep season could be a precursor to bringing back the system more broadly at the NT.
Immersive theatre company Punchdrunk will stage Ghostlight (summer/autumn 2027), curated by playwright Lucy Kirkwood. While originally announced as an untitled project at the Dorfman, the venue is now unconfirmed, with Rubasingham remaining coy about whether it will be staged throughout the NT building.
Tickets for Suddenly Last Summer, Mr Loverman, and Samira go on sale at noon on Sep 24. Remaining productions will be announced later, likely in early 2027.
