NT Live to screen Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Audience & The Playboy of the Western World in cinemas
National Theatre Live has announced an exciting trio of productions heading to cinema screens in 2026, promising audiences a rich blend of drama, intrigue, and theatrical mastery.
The newly revealed slate features two major new National Theatre productions captured live from the Lyttelton stage, alongside the much-anticipated return of one of NT Live’s all-time favourites. These titles join the previously announced Hamlet, completing a formidable year of cinema offerings.
Helen Mirren returns in The Audience
In cinemas 26 February 2026 (UK only)
After more than a decade, Helen Mirren’s iconic turn as Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience returns to UK cinemas. Directed by Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot The Musical) and written by Peter Morgan, the Olivier and Tony Award-winning hit was originally captured in 2013 and remains one of the most-watched NT Live broadcasts to date. Morgan would later expand themes from this play into the global Netflix sensation The Crown.
The drama peels back the curtain on the Queen’s private weekly audiences with her prime ministers—meetings held without witnesses for 60 years. From Churchill to Thatcher to Cameron, Morgan’s script offers glimpses into the monarch’s personal world and the pivotal moments that shaped her reign.
Nicola Coughlan leads The Playboy of the Western World
In cinemas 28 May 2026
A fresh staging of John Millington Synge’s Irish classic arrives on screens following its run at the National Theatre. Directed by Caitriona McLaughlin, Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre, The Playboy of the Western World stars Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton), Éanna Hardwicke (Saipan), and Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls).
Set on the west coast of Ireland, the play begins when Christy Mahon stumbles into Pegeen Flaherty’s pub claiming to have killed his father. Instead of horror, he inspires admiration—until an unexpected visitor throws the village (and Christy’s newfound heroism) into chaos. With humour and heart, Synge’s tale of self-invention takes on new resonance in this vivid revival. It’s currently playing at the National until 28 February 2026.
Lesley Manville & Aidan Turner star in Les Liaisons Dangereuses
In cinemas 25 June 2026
A sumptuous new staging of Christopher Hampton’s acclaimed adaptation of Les Liaisons Dangereuses rounds out the trio. Directed by Marianne Elliott—her first return to the National Theatre in nine years—the production stars Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread, Oedipus), Aidan Turner (Rivals, Poldark), and Monica Barbaro (Top Gun: Maverick). It runs at at National from 21 March to 6 June 2026. Book tickets >
Set in pre-Revolutionary France, the story centres on the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, two master manipulators who use seduction as a weapon. When their intricate alliance devolves into rivalry, their dangerous games threaten to consume everyone in their orbit. Elliott’s major revival of Dangerous Liaisons promises a bold, incisive take on Laclos’ classic.
A Bold New Hamlet Opens the Season
In cinemas 22 January 2026
Kicking off the 2026 slate is a sharp and stylish new interpretation of Hamlet, captured during its autumn 2025 run. Directed by Robert Hastie, the National Theatre’s Deputy Artistic Director, the production stars Hiran Abeysekera, the Olivier Award-winning actor celebrated for his role in Life of Pi. This fresh version explores Hamlet’s struggle between duty and doubt, set against a world of privilege and pressure.
Matt Risley, the National Theatre’s newly appointed Chief Digital Officer, expressed excitement about the year ahead: “It has been a blockbuster year for NT Live and 2026 is already shaping up to follow suit. This year we’ve had over 1.2 million admissions worldwide, across six releases, and the momentum shows no sign of slowing down. It’s brilliant that we’re able to bring back The Audience after over ten years, alongside two of the most highly anticipated productions of the National Theatre’s new season.”
Book tickets to Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre, London
Les Liaisons Dangereuses
National Theatre – Lyttelton Theatre, London
Book tickets
📷 Main photo: NT Live Season: The Audience, Les Liaisons Dangereuses & The Playboy of the Western World (Photo supplied by National Theatre)
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