Olivier Award-winning actress Julie Walters will return to the National Theatre next summer to star in The Last Of The Haussmans, a new comedy by writer and actor Stephen Beresford.
Walters, who last appeared on stage in her long-time collaborator Victoria Wood’s Acorn Antiques in 2005, will play a former hippy who, now a mother, has to live with the consequences of her misspent youth. Walters will be directed by Howard Davies who returns to the National following current production The Cherry Orchard. He won 2010’s Best Director Olivier Award for The White Guard, also at the venue.
Walters is well known for her screen appearances in Wood’s Dinnerladies and films including Billy Elliot, Calendar Girls and the hugely successful Harry Potter series. The much-acclaimed actress has also enjoyed a successful stage career notably originating the title role in Educating Rita for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2000 which later earned her a Golden Globe nomination for the film adaptation.
The Last Of The Haussmans also marks the reunion of Walters and director Davies after almost a decade following her award-winning performance in his production of All My Sons at the venue in 2000.
The summer production will see Beresford make his National Theatre playwriting debut with the comedy. After appearing in plays including Shopping And F**king, Our Country’s Good and Woyzeck, Beresford turned his hand to writing, working in television and with the Old Vic for its 24 Hour Plays project.
The Last Of The Haussmans plays at the National Theatre’s Lyttelton theatre with dates and further casting to be announced.
CM