Amongst the productions that will be offered include the return of War Horse in the Olivier Theatre, as well as new productions In-I, co-directed by Akram Khan and Juliette Binoche; Jonathan Kent's production of Oedipus with Ralph Fiennes in the title role; and DV8's To Be Straight with You.
In a press statement, Nicholas Hytner, director of the National Theatre, commented, "It's long been our ambition to open the National on Sundays, joining all our neighbours on the South Bank who open their doors throughout the weekend. This is excellent news for audiences, particularly those who find it difficult to come here during the traditional working week. We are immensely grateful to our NT company of staff and actors, and to the theatre unions Equity, BECTU and the MU, whose co-operation has been vital in enabling us to take this important step."
The box office for War Horse, which returns to the Olivier Theatre Sept. 10 and plays its first Sunday matinee on Sept. 21, will open for public bookings on June 6; details and booking dates for the other productions will be announced in early July.
War Horse, adapted by Nick Stafford from the novel by Michael Morpurgo and directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, will see the return of original cast members James Barriscale, Finn Caldwell, Paul Chequer, Tim van Eyken, Thomas Goodridge, Stephen Harper, Gareth Kennerley, Craig Leo, Tommy Luther, Mervyn Millar, Emily Mytton, Toby Olie, Howard Ward and Alan Williams, and they will be newly joined by Kit Harington (as Albert), Bronagh Gallagher, Curtis Flowers and Bryony Hannah.
Set at the outbreak of World War One, the plot revolves around Joey, young Albert's beloved horse, who is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. He's soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary odyssey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man's land. But Albert cannot forget Joey and, still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home. To book tickets (from June 6), contact the box office at 020 7452 3000 or visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk.
