Stormzy will front a new National Theatre diversity drive after signing up for a ‘top secret’ project at the iconic London venue. 

The Croydon-born grime artist, real name Michael Omari Owuo Jr, has been scouted by new National Theatre boss Indhu Rubasingham as she looks to modernise and diversify its creative output. 

As the South Bank venue’s first female and ethnic minority artistic director, Rubasingham has announced plans to stage rap adaptations of classic Greek tragedy, although Stormzy’s involvement is yet to be clarified.  

The subversive move is part of a wider aim to build an international audience through the National Theatre’s online streaming platform, National Theatre At Home. 

The £9.99 per month platform – originally launched in 2020 – will give subscribers the opportunity to watch theatrical productions from the comfort of home and create what insiders hope will be a “Netflix for theatre”

Stormzy will front a new diversity drive at the National Theatre after signing up for a ‘top secret’ project at the iconic London venue

The Croydon-born grime artist has been scouted by newly appointed National Theatre boss Indhu Rubasingham as she looks to modernise and diversify its creative output

Irish actor Paul Mescal, fresh from his Hollywood breakthrough in Gladiator II, will also boost the theatre’s international ambitions having signed up for a new production of Arthur Miller’s classic Death Of A Salesman and Tony Murphy’s A Whistle In The Dark. 

The productions will take place as part of Rubasingham’s inaugural programme, with dates for the performances yet to be announced.

Both 20th century plays will take place in the Lyttelton Theatre, and focus on dysfunctional family relationships, the struggle for idenтιтy, and societal and familial expectations.

A Whistle In The Dark will later transfer to the Abbey Theatre, while a second pair of productions to run in the Lyttelton will be announced at a later date.

The play will be directed by Caitriona McLaughlin, while Arthur Miller’s Death Of A Salesman will be directed by Rebecca Frecknall.

Further casting and ticket sale dates will be announced in due course.

Elsewhere, Sri Lankan actor Hiran Abeysekera will be the first non-white star to play Shakespeare’s Hamlet in another forthcoming production.  

Euripides’s The Bacchae will also be given a modern twist, with Rubasingham planning a rap adaptation of the iconic Greek tragedy. 

London Southbank’s National Theatre (pictured) was launched by Sir Laurence Olivier in 1963

Irish actor Paul Mescal will also boost the theatre’s international ambitions having signed up for a new production of Arthur Miller’s classic Death Of A Salesman

Other projects focusing primarily on themes of gender and race include The Story, an American drama about racial politics, and Cloud 9, a study on colonialism. 

Discussing the move towards a more modernist theatre on Tuesday, Kate Varah, the National Theatre’s executive director, said plans to expand its streaming service would help attract audiences “not just in our country, but in 184 countries around the world”.

She said: ‘It’s no longer just about what happens here on the South Bank, the National Theatre is now a global theatre with an audience of 28 million per year.’ 

Rubasingham is the seventh director National Theatre director since its was launched by Sir Laurence Olivier in 1963. 

Alongside Varah, she also works as the legendary venue’s joint chief executive. 

Her 2023 appointment follows her role as boss of London’s Kiln Theatre, where she attracted controversy after the venue refused to host an event ᴀssociated with Israel.