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First things first: acting legends Ian McKellen and Judi Dench are sadly not doing a play together at the National Theatre. Dench (90) is almost certainly retired from the stage, and while whippersnaper McKellen (86) has had an astonishingly busy eighties –Londoners can’t say they didn’t get a chance to see him live – it looks unlikely he’ll tread the boards again this year, at the very least.
However, they are teaming up for the mother of all theatrical chats. Under incoming artistic director Inhu Rubasingham, the NT is launching a new strand of one-off shows called Next Chapter, and she’s bagged the legendary duo to talk about their lives and careers in conversation with their friend the actor Jim Carter. The one-off show will be held in the NT’s giant Olivier Theatre on Friday December 19.
If a convo between two extremely famous actors who’ve performed on the NT stage multiple times is impressive but maybe not surprising, the other Next Chapter show announced today is from more out of leftfield. Directed by Clint Dyer, the show on Friday October 23 – also in the Olivier – will be a theatrically reimagined live version of veteran Brit rapper Wretch 32’s new album HOME? What does that mean exactly? We’re promised dancers and drama exploring Black British identity. Interestingly Rubasingham has already announced there is an untitled collaboration with Stormzy in the pipeline – could the National Theatre become the new home of British hip hop?
Wretch 32’s HOME? is on Oct 23. Tickets go on sale 10am Sep 12.
Ian McKellen and Judi Dench in conversation with Jim Carter is on Dec 19. Tickets go on sale 10am Sep 19.
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