The National Theatre has announced full casting for a new production of Caryl Churchill’s influential play Cloud 9, which runs in the Lyttelton Theatre from 2 November 2026 to 13 January 2027.
Directed by Dominic Cooke, the production reunites the acclaimed director with Churchill for a fresh staging of the 1979 classic, which explores gender, sexuality, power and the legacy of empire through its playful and unconventional structure.
Previously announced cast members include Rebecca Humphries as Ellen/Mrs Saunders/Lin, Eloka Ivo as Joshua/Gerry, Tom Mothersdale as Harry Bagley/Martin, Charlotte Ritchie as Maud/Victoria, Ellen Robertson as Edward/Betty, Stuart Thompson as Betty/Edward and Sam Troughton as Clive/Cathy.
They are joined by understudies Tom Brace-Jenkins, Izaak Cainer, Dan Furlonger, Skye Hallam, Meg Lewis and Ola Teniola.
Dominic Cooke said: “Caryl Churchill has been an inspiration to me for decades. Her ability to bring complex current ideas to life in groundbreaking theatrical forms is second to none. Of her early plays, Cloud Nine is one of my favourites: by turns hilarious, insightful and astute. Its formally playful exploration of gender and sexuality was decades ahead of its time and still feels as fresh and pertinent as ever. I can’t wait to bring this brilliant cast onto the Lyttelton stage and share Caryl’s unique vision with National Theatre audiences.”
Set across two distinct periods, the play begins in Victorian Africa, where a colonial administrator’s family struggle to conform to the expectations placed upon them. A century later, the characters reappear in 1970s London as they attempt to redefine themselves in a changing world.
The creative team includes set designer Miriam Buether, costume designer Samuel Wyer, lighting designer Jessica Hung Han Yun, sound designer Donato Wharton, composer Andy Roberts, music director Josh Sneesby, casting director Naomi Downham, dialect coach Penny Dyer, voice coach Shereen Ibrahim, associate set designer Luke Smith and staff director Max Harrison.
Cloud 9 opens in the Lyttelton Theatre on 2 November, with press night scheduled for 10 November 2026.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
