-Christian-Tierney.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
The National Theatre is set to embark on its most ambitious chapter yet, with Bafta-winning actor Paul Mescal taking centre stage in a season that promises to redefine British theatre..
The 29-year-old Irish star, whose meteoric rise from Normal People star to Gladiator II lead has captivated audiences worldwide, will make his National Theatre debut in two landmark productions that showcase his range.
This coup for the South Bank institution comes as new Co-Chief Executives Indhu Rubasingham and Kate Varah unveil a visionary programme designed to cement the National’s position as the world’s preeminent theatre company.
Mescal’s Theatrical Homecoming
Mescal makes his double debut
Christian Tierney
For the actor, the National Theatre season represents both a homecoming and a significant step forward in his already impressive career. Having trained at The Lir Academy in Dublin and earned early acclaim for stage work including The Plough and the Stars at the Lyric Hammersmith, the actor has long been regarded as one of Britain’s most exciting theatrical talents.
He will take on the two challenging roles in quick succession – the volatile Michael Carney in Tom Murphy’s A Whistle in the Dark and the iconic Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.
A Whistle in the Dark, a co-production with Dublin’s Abbey Theatre, will see Mescal reunite with director Caitríona McLaughlin following their acclaimed collaboration on The Cherry Orchard.
The play, often described as Ireland’s answer to Long Day’s Journey Into Night, presents a brutal portrait of Irish immigrant life in 1960s Coventry, with Mescal playing the conflicted middle son in a violently dysfunctional family.
Ballet Shoes hits the stage
A5 Press_Image
The production’s transfer to the Abbey Theatre later in the season underscores the National’s commitment to international collaboration. Equally anticipated is Rebecca Frecknall’s revival of Death of a Salesman, marking Mescal’s first foray into Miller’s canon.
He will be one of the youngest actors to tackle the role of Willy Loman, bringing a fresh perspective to the American classic about shattered dreams and familial disintegration.
Frecknall, whose Cabaret revival recently took the West End by storm, is expected to deliver a radical reinterpretation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama.
The casting of Mescal exemplifies Rubasingham’s ambitious vision for the National Theatre’s next chapter. “We want to tell stories that resonate across borders and generations,” the Artistic Director explained at today’s season launch.
“Paul represents exactly the kind of fearless, world-class talent we’re committed to showcasing – artists who can connect with audiences in London, Dublin, or anywhere our work travels.”
Black Panther’s Letitia Wright and Stormzy Debut
.JPG?quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
Black Panther’s Letitia Wright
Not
This global perspective permeates the entire season, from the British premiere of Tracey Scott Wilson’s The Story (starring Black Panther’s Letitia Wright) to the National’s first major collaboration with a British rap artist.
The news that Stormzy is developing a production with Rubasingham sent ripples through the theatre world, marking a significant moment of cross-cultural exchange and set to appeal to a whole new and younger audience.
“I’ve been quietly falling in love with theatre for years,” said the rapper. “There’s a raw power in live performance that mirrors what we do in music. Working with Indhu and the National team feels like the perfect way to explore that creatively.”
While details remain under wraps, insiders suggest the project will fuse contemporary music with classical storytelling traditions when it premieres in 2026.
Stormzy to collaborate with the National Theatre
National Theatre
Education and Accessibility at the Forefront
Beyond the star-studded lineup, the National is making its most significant investment yet in arts education. The expansion of the National Theatre Collection – now available free to all UK state schools and over 200 New York institutions – represents a major step in democratising access to world-class theatre.
The scheme, which will roll out across the US over the next three years, includes innovative digital resources alongside classic productions.
New additions to the collection this September include Blues for an Alabama Sky, The Boy with Two Hearts, and Ballet Shoes, with accompanying educational materials developed in partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing.
This initiative complements the National’s existing schools touring programme, which will bring two productions directly to young audiences across the UK.
A Season of Theatrical Innovation
The 2025/26 season balances bold reinventions of classic texts with cutting-edge new writing. Highlights include:
- A radical reimagining of Euripides’ The Bacchae set in contemporary London
- The first major revival of The Playboy of the Western World in a decade
- A new musical adaptation of an award-winning film (title still under wraps)
- Two yet-to-be-announced productions that will run in repertory in the Lyttelton
Music takes centre stage throughout the season, with original scores from leading composers and several productions incorporating live performance. This musical emphasis reflects Rubasingham’s belief in theatre as a multi-sensory experience that can “transport audiences in ways no other artform can.”
Tickets for Bacchae, Hamlet and The Playboy of the Western World going on sale May 15, and Ballet Shoes is now available. Further information and on sale dates for the rest of the programme to be announced.