Douglas Henshall joins Bryan Cranston and Michelle Dockery in Network

Bryan Cranston, Michelle Dockery and Douglas Henshall

The National Theatre have announced that Douglas Henshall will play Max Schumacher in the world premiere of Network - Lee Hall's new adaptation of the Oscar-winning film by Paddy Chayefsky.

Henshall joins Tony Award winner Bryan Cranston as Howard Beale and Michelle Dockery as Diana Christenson. Network will be directed by Ivo Van Hove.

Howard Beale, news anchor-man, isn’t pulling in the viewers. In his final broadcast he unravels live on screen. But when the ratings soar, the network seizes on their new found populist prophet, and Howard becomes the biggest thing on TV.

Network depicts a dystopian media landscape where opinion trumps fact. Hilarious and horrifying by turns, the iconic film by Paddy Chayefsky won four Academy Awards in 1976.

Network will have set and lighting design by Jan Versweyveld, video design by Tal Yarden, costume design by An D'Huys, music and sound design by Eric Sleichim.

A very limited number of on stage seating will be going on sale through a ballot which opens on 7 September 2017.

Network will preview from 4 November continuing in repertoire until 24 March 2018.

NETWORK AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE