Rumor has it that the well-respected Colman Domingo and Jeremy Strong from Hollywood are talking about making a debut on the British stage in none other than the National Theatre in London.
The news has broken right at the moment when the new Artistic Director of the theatre, Indhu Rubasingham, announced a lineup of celebrities, re-reads, and completely new productions in her first season, heavily anticipated by the fans of the theatre.
From Screen to Stage: What We Know So Far
Although there are no official casting confirmations yet, it is said that both Domingo and Strong are looking at the possibility of leading separate National Theatre productions next year.
Jeremy Strong, winner of the Tony Award for An Enemy of the People most recently, happens to be a household name in the US as Kendall Roy in HBO’s audience-favorite Succession. Nevertheless, Strong’s origin in the world of theatre is very deep and is represented by his numerous performances in such venues as Broadway (A Man for All Seasons) and Off-Broadway (The Great God Pan) with such institutions as Lincoln Center and The Public Theater. Besides, he is now concurrently filming The Boys from Brazil for Netflix and also is portraying Jon Landau—Bruce Springsteen’s manager for many years—in the upcoming biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere.
Colman Domingo, a two-time Oscar nominee (Rustin, Sing Sing), also has a substantial background on the theater scene. The Scottsboro Boys fetched him an Olivier Award nomination and he was one of the principal figures behind Passing Strange and Chicago on Broadway. It should also be underlined that he had previously collaborated with Rubasingham on his solo show A Boy and His Soul in London which acts as a solid reason for which a reunion is taking place now.
Though their roles at the National Theatre are still being worked out, their participation would be a significant milestone in the theatre’s story after the pandemic, and it certainly fits in well with Rubasingham’s idea of the theatre becoming globally popular.
A Star-Studded Season at the National
A Season is generating a lot of interest even at the outset. Some of the things it will be remembered for are brave choices made in programming and the participation of the big names cast. Those who have already signed to be in the 21/22 season include:
- Paul Mescal (Gladiator II)
- Letitia Wright (Black Panther)
- Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton)
- Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown)
- Aidan Turner (Rivals)
- Lesley Manville (The Crown)
The greatest of the stages production is Mogul Liasions Dangereuses done by Manville Elliott Marianne at the front with the cast. The story is also set to have Barbaro and Turner, who will co-star in the modern adaptation of the original French play.
Pride, Hamlet, and the Bacchae Reimagined
The upcoming season is not only rich in its ensemble of iconic stars, but will also be home to some strikingly imaginative interpretations of stories that have been cherished through the ages.
Euripides’ The Bacchae that has been re-worked by Nima Taleghani and is set to run until November 2 and is one of the plays that are part of The National’s season. This modern and hip-hop version, with McArdle, Perkins, and Roach in the cast, is set to debut on 13 September at the Olivier Theatre.
The Other shows of the season include a classic play of Hamlet directed by Robert Hastie and starred in by Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) who will bring it to life at the Lyttelton Theatre.
It may seem challenging for viewers to decide which of the stunning line-up premieres is their favorite, but a tip could be the musical Lew Christoph that is based on the script of the BAFTA-winning 2014 movie “Pride” written by Stephen Beresford and directed by Matthew Warchus. The new production is a Warchus and Beresford collaboration and is in co-production with P&P Productions.
American Theatre Audiences Will Find This Significant
The chance of eric Domingo and Clara strong coming over to the National Theatre is not only a big thing in the UK but also a sign of the increasing connection between American cinema and London’s stage elite. For those in the US, the performances of these artists will probably not only appear in the form of NT Live digital program (streamed globally) of a lot of them but in response to the strengthening of long-existing relationships, a considerable number of the performances may transfer to the other side of the Atlantic now or in the future.
Yes, that’s the power of the American film industry, where its artists are showcasing their acting talents from the ancient confines of the theaters to the modern relevance of Hollywood films, in ways that are unseen in the old days. Until the discussions between the management and the artists are finalized, it is too soon to talk about more details.
