Debra Gillett News

Somewhere in Europe the kingdom is disintegrating. It's the last day of King Berenger's life. Queen Marguerite is preparing for the end and Queen Marie is in denial. The King is 400 years old and dying, but he's clinging on for dear life...

Exit the King at the National Theatre has a beautiful design and wonderful performances from some of the cast, but it ultimately falls flat. While Patrick Marber's new version of Eugene Ionesco's absurdist drama about a dying king has its good moments, it seems to drag on for a play that is only an hour and forty minutes long.

Somewhere in Europe the kingdom is disintegrating. It's the last day of King Berenger's life. Queen Marguerite is preparing for the end and Queen Marie is in denial. The King is 400 years old and dying, but he's clinging on for dear life...

Exit the King marks the first time Eugène Ionesco work has been performed at the National. Playing on the vast Olivier stage, this absurdist play features a cast of just six actors, an intimate staging. One of those is actress Debra Gillett, making her return to the National. With the production opening tomorrow, Debra shares how rehearsals have been going and looks ahead to how Exit the King will resonate with audiences and actors alike.

The great tragicomedy EXIT THE KING is brought to life on the Olivier stage this summer, the first time Eugene Ionesco's work has been performed at the National Theatre. Patrick Marber (Three Days in the Country, Hedda Gabler) directs his new version of Exit the King with Rhys Ifans (A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic) in the title role and Indira Varma (Man and Superman) as his first Queen.

The National Theatre announces new information, and recaps its upcoming season.

The National Theatre has announced its May-September 2018 season.

Limehouse focuses on the events concerning the founding of the Social Democratic Party (the SDP) and the drafting of the Limehouse Declaration that led to it. Many, many parallels with today's fractured polity.

Steve Waters' thrilling new drama takes us behind closed doors to imagine the personal conflicts behind the making of political history. The play imagines what happened when the 'Gang of Four' met in 1981 to break away from the Labour party and form the SDP.

Limehouse begins previews at the Donmar Warehouse on Thursday 2 March for an opening 8 March 2017. BroadwayWord has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

The Donmar Warehouse today announces full casting for Bruce Norris' new translation of Bertolt Brecht's satirical masterpiece The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, directed by Simon Evans with design by Peter McKintosh.

Limehouse begins previews at the Donmar Warehouse tonight 2 March for an opening 8 March 2017. BroadwayWord has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Limehouse begins previews at the Donmar Warehouse on Thursday 2 March for an opening 8 March 2017. BroadwayWord has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

The Donmar Warehouse today announces full casting for playwright Steve Waters' searing new drama Limehouse. The play imagines what happened when the 'Gang of Four' met in 1981 to break away from the Labour party and form the SDP.

Final performances of the Young Chekhov trilogy begin this autumn in the Olivier Theatre, and The Plough and the Stars is wrapping up at the Lyttelton. In addition, previews begin in the Lyttelton for The Red Barn on 6 October (press night on 17 October), and Amadeus starts previewing in the Olivier from 19 October, (press night on 26 October).

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE has announced an international broadcast of the National Theatre of Great Britain's production of Euripides' Greek tragedy MEDEA, in a new version by Ben Power, directed by Carrie Cracknell and starring Helen McCrory in the title role. The production will be broadcast live from the National's Olivier Theatre on Thursday September 4 2014, with varying dates internationally and encore screenings to follow.

The Special Award will be presented by celebrated actor and life-long friend, Sir David Jason at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday 25 November at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Brian and David have worked together on several animated films and children's programmes including The Wind In The Willows, The BFG, Count Duckula and DangerMouse.