Rehearsals are underway for Marianne Elliott’s new staging of Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre, with Monica Barbaro, Gabrielle Drake, Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner leading the cast.
Christopher Hampton’s adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ epistolary novel – a thrilling game of love, lies and social warfare – has had a refreshed script for its first ever staging at the National.
The cast also includes Ishmail Aaron, Sharif Afifi, Curtis Angus, Charlotte Avery, Nandi Bhebhe, Lucia Chocarro, Liz Ewing, Ali Goldsmith, Darragh Hand, Georges Hann, Dianté Lodge, Katie Lusby, Amy Macken, Aisha Naamani, Bryony Pennington, Cat Simmons and Hannah van der Westhuysen.
The pen is mightier than the sword
Among the glittering salons of the super-rich, patriarchy equals power, reputation is everything – and for women, one misstep can mean ruin.
Marquise de Merteuil, master in the art of survival, wields her influence with intelligence and control. Alongside the magnetic Vicomte de Valmont, they turn seduction into strategy and weaponise desire. But when their alliance collapses into rivalry, the battle between them threatens to destroy everyone in their path.
The artistic team includes set designer Rosanna Vize, costume designer Natalie Roar, choreographer Tom Jackson Greaves, composer Jasmin Kent Rodgman, lighting designer James Farncombe, sound designer Ian Dickinson for Autograph, intimacy director Ingrid Mackinnon, fight director Sam Lyon-Behan, casting directors Alastair Coomer and Naomi Downham, voice and dialect coach Hazel Holder, associate director Mumba Dodwell and associate wigs, hair and make-up designer Adele Brandman.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses plays the Lyttelton theatre from March 21 – June 6, 2026. Tickets here.
Top image: Nandi Bhebhe (Julie), Ali Goldsmith (Major-Domo and Dancer) and Bryony Pennington (Dancer) © Sarah Lee (image supplied)