London's National Theatre Announces Three New Productions

London's National Theatre has announced three new productions for its season. The world premiere of Steven Knight's The President of an Empty Room: A Story of Voodoo, Heroin and Tobacco, Brian Friel's Aristocrats and the world premiere of David Edgar's Playing With Fire will all be presented at the theater.

Amid the vibrant, spirited community of a Cuban cigar factory, the senior roller proclaims a democracy and work goes to hell in The President of an Empty Room. There's Flamenco dancing, bursts of opera, quarrels, reconciliations, revelations and a bungled sexual encounter; but Miguel has lost his sweetheart to America. The production, directed by Howard Davies, will star Jim Carter, Paul Hilton, Fraser James, Inika Leigh Wright, Petra Letang, Stephen Moore, Lucian Msamati, Anthony O'Donnell and Tracey Saunders. It is scheduled to run at the Cottesloe Theatre from June 17 through August 27.

In Aristocrats, a family gathers for a wedding at the ancestral home in County Donegal, its crumbling edifice testimony to an opulent way of life that's all but finished. As the accusations and demands of their dying father ring out, his wayward, volatile offspring find consolation in reinventing wild and bohemian stories of the big house in its heyday. The show will feature Brian Doherty, Dervla Kirwan, Peter McDonald, Gina McKee, Marcella Plunkett and Andrew Scott. Directed and designed by Tom Cairns, it is scheduled to begin performances at the Lyttelton Theatre on July 2.

In Playing With Fire, running from September 12 through October 22 at the Olivier Theatre, racial tensions soar and good intentions have fatal consequences. When the District Council of Wyverdale fails to satisfy a government audit, New Labour high-flyer Alex is sent north from London to formulate a robust recovery plan. But websites, faith festivals and council leaflets in Bengali seem beside the point to the Labour old guard, struggling to provide the basics to an alienated and divided electorate. Michael Attenborough directs.

The season will also include previously planned productions of Theatre of Blood with Jim Broadbent, The House of Bernarda Alba, Henry IV Part 1 and Part 2 and The UN Inspector.