The National Theatre has released first-look rehearsal images for The Land of the Living, a powerful new play by David Lan, directed by Stephen Daldry.
Starring Olivier Award-winner Juliet Stevenson (The Doctor) and Tom Wlaschiha (Game of Thrones), The Land of the Living explores the shifting nature of memory and morality through the lens of post-war trauma.
Set in Germany in 1945, the play follows Thomas, a child stolen by the Nazis, and Ruth, a UN relief worker tasked with deciding his future. Decades later, Thomas returns to confront Ruth, and the choices she made as a young woman are brought into sharp focus.
The production runs in the Dorfman theatre from 9 September to 1 November 2025, forming part of Rufus Norris’ final season as Director of the National Theatre. Press night is scheduled for Thursday 18 September.
Joining Stevenson and Wlaschiha is a full cast including Atilla Akinci, Kate Duchêne, Michael Fox, Hubert Hanowicz, Caroline Loncq, Avital Lvova, Michael Marcus, Anastasia Martin, Marek Oravec, Cosima Shaw and Sasha Syzonenko. Young performers Darcy Tosun, Anton Vehring and Artie Wilkinson-Hunt complete the ensemble.
The creative team features set designer Miriam Buether, costume designer Nicky Gillibrand, lighting designer James Farncombe, sound designer Gareth Fry, and composer Paul Englishby. Movement is directed by Paul McGill, with fight and intimacy direction by Maisie Carter.
Also on the team are casting director Naomi Downham, dialect and language coach Victoria Woodward, voice coach Cathleen McCarron, associate director Jane Moriarty and staff director Júlia Levai.
Director Stephen Daldry said, “This is a story that demands to be told now. David Lan’s writing is both intimate and epic, and Juliet Stevenson and Tom Wlaschiha bring extraordinary depth to these roles.”
David Lan added, “All my life – all your life – I’ve struggled with this: was what I did ‘wrong’?”
Assisted performances include captioned shows on 4, 16 and 29 October, audio described performances on 11 and 30 October (with touch tours), and a relaxed performance on 20 October.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
