U.K.'s National Theatre Confirms Dates, Further Casting for New Productions Through June 2012 | Playbill

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News U.K.'s National Theatre Confirms Dates, Further Casting for New Productions Through June 2012 The UK's National Theatre has confirmed dates and further casting for new productions that will open through June, including Antigone, Detroit and Misterman.

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Cillian Murphy

Cillian Murphy will reprise his solo performance in Enda Walsh's Misterman, previously already seen in New York and Ireland, beginning performances April 14 in the Lyttelton Theatre, prior to an official opening April 18, for a run in rep through May 28. In Walsh's play, which the author also directs, Inishfree might seem like a quaint Irish town, but fierce evangelist Thomas Magill knows better. He knows jovial Dwain Flynn is a miserable drunk, that Timmy O'Leary enslaves his lovely mother and that sweet Mrs. Cleary is a blasphemous flirt. It is down to Thomas, with God on his shoulder, to save this sinful place. But the townsfolk are not listening, an angel is misbehaving and a barking dog will not be silenced. Just how far will Thomas go in his quest for salvation?

Murphy has previously starred in Walsh's Disco Pigs, which toured Ireland, the UK, Canada and Australia, and was later filmed. Other screen work includes "Red Lights," "Inception," "Sunshine," "28 Days Later," "Batman Begins," "The Dark Knight," "Breakfast on Pluto," "Red Eye," "The Wind that Shakes the Barley," "Girl with a Pearl Earring" and "Cold Mountain."

Lisa D'Amour's Detroit, originally premiered at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre in 2011, will begin performances May 8 in the Cottesloe Theatre, prior to an official opening May 15. It is directed by Austin Pendleton, who also directed the play's US premiere, with set designs by Kevin Depinet, costumes by Susan Kulkarni, lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by John Leonard and choreography by Arthur Pita. The cast includes Clare Dunne.

According to press materials, the play is set in a suburb of a mid-sized American city, where Ben and Mary welcome their new neighbours, Sharon and Kenny, who have moved into the long-empty house next door. Fuelled by backyard barbecues and booze, their sudden friendship rapidly veers out of control, as inhibitions are obliterated and the fragility of Ben and Mary's off-the-shelf lifestyle is laid bare.

Sophocles' Antigone, presented in a version by Don Taylor, begins performances in the Olivier Theatre May 23, prior to an official opening May 30, as part of the Travelex £12 Tickets season. Jodie Whittaker, whose TV credits include "Cranford," "The Night Watch" and "Marchlands," makes her National Theatre debut in the title role. It is directed by Polly Findlay and designed by Soutra Gilmour, with lighting by Mark Henderson and movement by Aline David. In addition, Inua Ellams will bring Black T-Shirt Collection that he has written and stars in to the National's Cottesloe, beginning performances April 12 prior to an official opening April 13 for a run through April 24, presented by Fuel as part of a UK tour that will also visit Liverpool, Ormskirk, Manchester, Bristol, Crawley, Cheltenham, Coventry, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Frome. In the play, Ellams tells a new story about two foster brothers building a global t-shirt brand. On their journey from a market in Nigeria to a sweatshop in China, Matthew and Muhammed discover the consequences of success.

Nicholas Hytner's production of John Hodge's Collaborators, currently running in the Cottesloe through March 31, transfers to the Olivier, beginning performances April 30, where it will open the tenth Travelex £12 Tickets season. Alex Jennings and Simon Russell Beale reprise their roles of Mikhail Bulgakov and Joseph Stalin, respectively. Lloyd Hutchinson joins the company to play Vladimir, alongside original cast members Sarah Annis, Marcus Cunningham, Jacqueline Defferary, Patrick Godfrey, Michael Jenn, Jess Murphy, William Postlethwaite, Pierce Reid, Nick Sampson, Maggie Service and Perri Snowdon.

Public phone/online booking for new productions in the February–June season opens Feb. 15. To book tickets, contact the box office on 020 7452 3000, or visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk for more details.

 
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