Rufus Norris, outgoing Director of the National Theatre, will receive a Special Award for his services to the theatre industry at this year’s Olivier Awards with Mastercard.

Following a 10-year tenure, Rufus will step down as Director of the National Theatre at the end of this month having overseen more than 170 productions at the theatre’s South Bank venue, with his final programmed play, David Eldridge’s End, opening in November. During his tenure, Rufus has driven forward key commitments to staging new work, increasing representation on and off stage, making theatre more sustainable and increasing the National Theatre’s worldwide footprint, with a current global audience reach of 19 million. His recent productions include Nye, Hex, Small Island, Macbeth, Mosquitoes, My Country; a work in progress, The Threepenny Opera, wonder.land and Everyman. Previously, Rufus was an Associate Director at the National Theatre, directing Behind the Beautiful Forevers, The Amen Corner, Table, London Road, Death and the King’s Horseman and Market Boy.

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Yesterday, National Theatre Live broadcast it’s 100^th title, ‘Nye’– Tim Price‘s (Teh Internet is Serious Business) new play directed by Rufus Norris (Small Island), charting the life of Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan and his battle to create the NHS, live from the Olivier stage to over 600 cinemas.

During the broadcast, the National Theatre released a short film capturing the story of NT Live from its inception in 2009. Featuring Dame Helen Mirren, James Cordon, Fisayo Akinade, Indira Varma, and Sir Ian McKellen, the film offers a look behind the curtain at how NT Live has evolved over the last 15 years, capturing world-class performances and taking them into cinemas, making theatre more accessible for global audiences.

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The winners of The Stage Awards, in association with Tysers Live, have been announced at the annual awards ceremony at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London. The prestigious event took place in front of an audience from every corner of the industry, with guests including West End producers, artistic directors, stage stars and many of the figures who featured in The Stage 100 list.

Now entering its 14th year, The Stage Awards were launched in 2010 to highlight the achievements in theatre across the UK. This year it turned its attention to 30 nominees across nine categories, all of whom exemplified the very best of the theatre community. For the first time this year, there was also the surprise addition of a Judges’ Award, presented to theatre company Chickenshed, in celebration of 50 years of excellence.

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A new era is upon us, and with this, many questions arise. Forced to craft new ways of living, thinking, working -post 2020, we’re at a transformational time on a national, as well as global level. Questioning what ‘England’ is and what it means in early 21st century Britain, The National Theatre have bravely responded to this with a series of works, Dear England a powerful reminder of the power of football, and how through the ‘beautiful game’, we can tackle ugly, harsh truths on a wider scale.

A look more so into the vision of England’s current manager Gareth Southgate, Dear England ushers us into a world whereby the power of the collective and looking after our well-being are considered paramount – a stark contrast to the egotistical/individualistic nature of the game in the old world. Fictionalised clashes between Southgate’s innovate notion of delving deeper into the psyche and emotional nature of each football player at odds with fellow management – these clashes comical yet fascinating to watch transpire. Es Devlin’s pristine digitised set interchanging between changing rooms and the grandiosity of the football stadiums the team face their various opponents in – this Match of the Day type aesthetic anchoring Dear England in the now, making the show instantly familiar and exciting to watch.

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Published a decade ago, Neil Geiman’s multi-award winning metaphysical novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane takes on theatrical form as the National Theatre’s much loved adaptation makes a welcome return, this time at the Noël Coward Theatre. The tale of a man revisiting his childhood roots as he returns to his hometown for a funeral taking on a profound, multi-dimensioned reality. Themes of grief, family, friendship, belief and perspective things we’re all confronted with.

An existential production delving into the world of the unseen or not to be believed, The Ocean at the End of the Lane sparks the imagination from the get go – Katy Rudd directing a riveting watch – one that’s complex, colourful yet hearty to experience. Operating on various levels, for those purely into sci-fi and mythical works, the time bending narrative operates as a means of escapism appreciated by many. For those of philosophical or spiritual mind, the show contemplates many humanistic themes that make the evening profound.

Trevor Fox delivers a mighty task of depicting the now, and the past – taking on the role of his father as we flashback, Keir Ogilvy (Boy) depicting his younger self. Naive, sprightly and honest, Ogilvy navigates a strange, complicated world consisting of spirits, monsters and the unknown. Laurie Ogden’s turn as Boy’s sister comical, positive and a symbol of normality in a very eccentric reality established. Charlie Brooks’ Ursula/Skarthach haunts, her superficial attempt ay being ‘nice’, eery and perfectly timed. We very slowly watch a family descend into chaos, Millie Hikasa’s Lettie Hempstock – Boy’s companion and saviour an although bubbly presence, enigmatic, an ancient soul.

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As the National Theatre prepares to mark 60 years of entertaining and inspiring audiences around the world on 22 October, a birthday present of 3,600 free tickets, 60 tickets for 60 performances in October, will be available for 16–25-year-olds to book for productions on the South Bank and in the West End. Productions include The Father and the Assassin, Death of England: Closing Time, The Effect, The Confessions, The Ocean at the End of the Lane and Dear England.

Tickets for the productions on all three stages of the National Theatre and at the Noël Coward and Prince Edward theatres in the West End will be made available to book for free via the National Theatre website on Monday 2 October from 12 – 6pm or whilst tickets last.

From the powerful exploration of oppression and extremism in Anupama Chandrasekhar’s The Father and the Assassin, to James Graham’s smash-hit new play Dear England, which tells the story of the England men’s football team under Gareth Southgate, there is a wealth of theatrical experience on offer for thousands of young people to experience for free.

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Two free programmes for young people interested in learning about technical theatre and offstage careers in the creative industry return this year. Applications are now open for the Young Technicians Programme which offers the chance for young people aged 14–18 to develop technical skills and learn from top industry professionals.

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The Genesis Foundation has announced the launch of a free training and mentoring programme for global majority applicants who are from socially and economically challenging backgrounds who want to pursue a career in theatre as a designer.

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Today, the Evening Standard announces the 2022 shortlist for the 66^th Evening Standard Theatre Awards. The shortlist features the biggest names and emerging talents from the London stage over the last eighteen months, who are recognised across nine award categories. Among the contenders are globally-renowned actors and actresses and hit shows including: Oklahoma!, Cabaret, The Father and the Assassin and Best of Enemies.

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The winners have been unveiled for this year’s Olivier Awards with Mastercard, British theatre’s biggest night, which took place on Sunday 10th April at the Royal Albert Hall in London, hosted by Jason Manford.

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