National Theatre to stage new play on Islam's place in modern Britain

London, September 18 : A play dealing with Islam's place in modern Britain is all set to be staged at the National Theatre, says director Nicholas Hytner.

He has revealed that Richard Bean's new play, 'England People Very Nice', will form part of the National's Travelex Season next year.

"There will be a new play by Richard Bean that I'm directing. It addresses the issue (of Islam) very vigorously," the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

He also made it clear that the play would not be incendiary.

"We are not here as a controversy magnet," he said.

"Richard's play is written with a raucous, boisterous bravura, but very much in a tradition of South Bank city comedy.

"It's not about suicide bombing. It's set in Bethnal Green, and it's about four waves of immigration - French Huguenots, Irish, Jewish and Bengali - and it finds a pattern there. It is very funny, it is 'equal opportunities' funny',"he added.

The newspaper report also says that Helen Mirren will once again return to the National Theatre stage next year, when she plays the title role in the 17th century tragedy Phedre by Jean Racine, set to open in June.

Mirren, who won an Oscar for her performance in The Queen, last trod the boards at the theatre in 2004 in Mourning Becomes Electra by the early 20th century American playwright Eugene O'Neill.

ANI