National Theatre taps Paul Mescal, Monica Barbaro, and Nicola Coughlan for new season

Paul Mescal, Letitia Wright, Monica Barbaro, and Nicola Coughlan are set to make their debuts at London’s prestigious National Theatre, marking a major moment in their stage careers.

The announcement comes as part of new artistic director Indhu Rubasingham’s fresh lineup of productions, emphasizing global talent and diverse storytelling.

Mescal will lead a repertory company at the Lyttelton Theatre in 2027, starring in A Whistle in the Dark and playing Biff in Death of a Salesman. Rubasingham highlighted that the Gladiator II star was selected not for his celebrity status, but for being "a proper theatre actor."

Monica Barbaro will join Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, directed by Marianne Elliott. Meanwhile, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan will headline The Playboy of the Western World from December 4. Black Panther actress Letitia Wright will star in The Story, a new play tackling racism and media culture.

Other major announcements include James McArdle, Clare Perkins, and Ukweli Roach starring in Bacchae, and Hiran Abeysekera leading a new Hamlet production in 2025. Rubasingham also announced partnerships with The Shed and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, aiming to take productions from London to international stages and schools.

The National Theatre’s evolving mission, Rubasingham said, is to create "state-of-the-world" plays that resonate across cultures, signaling a shift towards a more global, inclusive future for British theatre.