Atwood, Haig and Kay join National Theatre's celebration of authors

Margaret Atwood, Matt Haig and Adam Kay will all take part in the National Theatre's upcoming Authors of Stage series celebrating authors across the world. 

The series, from the National Theatre and Fane Productions, culminates in the already announced launch event of Atwood’s The Testaments (Chatto & Windus), her highly anticipated sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, which will also be broadcast live to over 1,200 cinemas around the world on the date of its publication, 10th September. 

Taking place across August and September, the Lyttelton stage will feature established authors and the launches of anticipated new publications, the series offers fresh perspectives on contemporary issues – as well as opportunities for audiences to engage in Q&As and to meet the authors in post-event signings at the National Theatre Bookshop.

In August, former doctor and This is Going to Hurt (Pan Macmillan) author Adam Kay, will be in conversation with comedian Rob Delaney as they discuss their shared passion for the NHS.

Reasons to Stay Alive and Notes on a Nervous Planet (both Canongate) author Matt Haig will take the audience on a journey through the modern world, offering a closer look at the challenges posed by our ever changing technological landscape and his advice on how best to navigate it.

Nigella Lawson and Yotam Ottolenghi will be exploring food and identity in a discussion chaired by writer Bee Wilson. British-Turkish writer and activist Elif Shafak, Mae Martin, Stacey Dooley, Candice Carty-Williams, Edna O'Brien and Fhatima Bhutto will also feature in the series. 

National Theatre director Rufus Norris said: “We’re greatly looking forward to welcoming such an inspirational roster of writers to the National Theatre this summer. The Authors on Stage events will provide a platform for them to explore a huge breadth of topics. As with the plays on our stages, we hope that audiences will be entertained, challenged and inspired by what they have to say.”

Fane Productions m.d. Alex Fane added: "At Fane Productions we aim to take inspirational and diverse voices to the widest audience possible. Working alongside the National Theatre to create this series has been a unique opportunity to showcase some of the most celebrated and relevant authors of our era at one of the nation's most iconic venues."

Tickets will be available via the National Theatre website, alongside the full schedule, with member booking from Monday 3rd June, and public on sale at 10am on Friday 7th June.