Cate Blanchett heads up an award winning cast for the world premiere of Benedict Andrews' Electra/Persona at the Lyttleton at National Theatre. A unique adaptation that brings two classic works into one, Andrews takes Sophocles' Greek tragedy Electra and the seminal 1966 Swedish psychological drama film Persona, turning the pair into one searing new piece of theatre. Starring alongside Blanchett are Nina Hoss (Tar) and Ella Lily Hyland (A Thousand Blows), with music by Hildur Gudnadottir (Joker) and further details to be announced.

Music icon Sting stars in his critically acclaimed musical, The Last Ship, in a revised new production, coming to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane this autumn. Featuring original music by The Police frontman himself, The Last Ship is a heartfelt and empowering musical about the shipbuilding community in his home city of Newcastle, as it reached its breaking point in the 1980s. Debuting in Chicago in 2014, the musical has enjoyed runs on Broadway, the West End, and in Australia. Inspired by Sting's own childhood, The Last Ship features some of the Grammy winner's best-loved songs, including "Island of Souls", "All This Time" and "When We Dance".

Fresh off his run in High Noon, Billy Crudup will return to the West End, opposite Gillian Anderson, in this new production of Edward Albee's landmark play, directed by Marianne Elliot (Company, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time). Set over the course of one evening, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf brings us into the heart of the marriage of Martha and George, who invite an unwitting younger couple to an after-party at their home. What begins as a nightcap soon escalates as Martha and George draw their guests into the battleground that is their fractured relationship.

Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actor's Guild award-winner Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) makes her debut at the National Theatre, leading the cast in Martin Crimp's blistering new version of Molire's greatest comedy, The Misanthrope. Directed by Indhu Rubasingham (The Father and the Assassin), Crimp's previous take on the classic originally premiered in 1996 and transported the setting from 17th century Paris to modern-day London, retelling the tale to deal with the shallowness and vanity of contemporary celebrity and bringing critical acclaim on both the West End and in New York. Refreshing and updating it once again, don't miss the return of this brilliant take on a centuries old comedy classic.

Returning to the stage in autumn 2026 on a brand new UK tour, followed by a Royal Albert Hall residency! One of the icons of the Suffragette movement and proto-feminist, Sylvia Pankhurst, gets the musical treatment in this piece from Katy Prince and Priya Parmar with music from Josh Cohen and DJ Walde. Starring pop star come stage phenomenon, Beverly Knight.

American playwright Tracey Scott Wilson's searing contemporary drama makes its British premiere at the Olivier Theatre. Directed by Clint Dyer (Death of England: Closing Time), the production stars BAFTA-winning actress Letitia Wright (Black Panther) making her National Theatre debut after a celebrated screen career, alongside an ensemble including Lorraine Toussaint (Orange is the New Black), Ashley Thomas (Bashy) and Wilf Scolding (Cabaret). Originally running in Manhattan in 2003, The Story is a gripping thriller based on a true story, navigating the risks of telling a story others would rather leave buried.