Musical Adaptation of The Witches, Lehman Brothers Drama From Sam Mendes, and More Tapped for National Theatre | Playbill

International News Musical Adaptation of The Witches, Lehman Brothers Drama From Sam Mendes, and More Tapped for National Theatre The 2018 lineup is also expected to feature a new play by Pulitzer Prize winner Bruce Norris.

London’s National Theatre is poised to present a musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches during the 2018 holiday season.

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The musical, according to The Daily Mail, is being developed by Olivier-winning director Lyndsey Turner and will feature a score by James Humphreys.

The novel tells the story of a young boy who happens upon a group of witches intent on exterminating all children through various spells and curses, from placing them in paintings to feeding them chocolate that turns them to mice. Anjelica Huston starred as the Grand High Witch in the 1990 film adaptation.

Sam Mendes is also tapped to direct an epic drama about the rise and fall of Lehman Brothers, titled The Lehman Trilogy. The work by Stefano Massini premiered at Milan’s Piccolo Teatro in 2015; Ben Power will adapt and translate the script for the National Theatre and Neal Street co-production.

Clybourne Park Pulitzer winner Bruce Norris will debut a new play at the National, directed by Dominic Cooke. The piece, presented as a co-production with the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, is set in a residence that houses sex offenders.

SEE WHAT ELSE IS SCHEDULED TO PERFORM IN LONDON

Also on tap are a new adaptation of Exit The King starring Rhys Ifans, a production of Brian Friel’s Translations helmed by Ian Rickson, and a revival of Rodney Ackland’s Absolute Hell.

An official announcement from the National Theatre, expected to detail these productions and more, will follow.

Update (October 3): The National Theatre has announced its initial slate of 2018 titles, though no mention is made of The Witches. Dates, additional casting, and more information will be revealed at a later date.

Read: NATIONAL THEATRE ADDS BRANDEN JACOBS-JENKINS' AN OCTOROON AND MORE TO 2018 LINEUP

First Look at Oslo at the National Theatre

 
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