When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other, National Theatre

Theatre's brightest talents join forces at London's National Theatre for a timely new play about sexual domination and resistance.

Provocateur Katie Mitchell directs the world premiere of Martin Crimp's When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other. Cate Blanchett makes her National Theatre debut and long-awaited return to the London stage to star alongside Stephen Dillane.

It's the kind of a-list casting that will pull in new audiences while still exciting seasoned theatre-goers, as Blanchett occupies that rare space between stage and screen.

She's a double Olivier-winning film-star, with a global fanbase thanks to roles spanning the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings franchise to Carol and Blue Jasmine. But she's also one of the most visionary talents in contemporary theatre. As co-artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company she gained a reputation for cutting-edge productions. Her last turn on the London stage, in 2012's Big and Small at the Barbican, was hailed by critics as 'a ray of light', and 'one of the most dazzling uninhibited performances I've ever seen'.

Blanchett, who was rumoured to be starring in Ivo van Hove's upcoming adaptation of All About Eve on the West End, will instead make come to Waterloo. She will be joined by Katie Mitchell's regular collaborator stage and screen actor Stephen Dillane (Faith Healer, Donmar Warehouse; The Coast of Utopia, National Theatre).

The new play by Martin Crimp is a contemporary and timely take on a classic book from 1740. When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other: Twelve Variations on Samuel Richardson's Pamela, as the full title goes, expands upon the themes of virtue and seduction in the epistolary novel.

The play will 'explore the messy, often violent nature of desire, and the fluid, complicated roles that men and women play.' Five characters, drawn from Richardson's text, embark upon a troubling game of sexual submission and self-possession. It's a provocative, potent starting point for Katie Mitchell's typically extreme and naturalistic directing style.

Mitchell returns to the National Theatre after 2016's searing sellout revival of Cleansed. 'It's great to be working with Martin again on this powerful new text and to continue my special collaboration with Stephen Dillane,' she says of the project. 'At the same time I'm delighted to welcome Cate Blanchett to the National, and look forward to developing a new working relationship with this extraordinary actor.'

More information will be announced in autumn 2018 when tickets will go on sale.