National Theatre Live has announced that Emily Burns’ acclaimed West End revival of Noël Coward’s classic comedy Hay Fever will be broadcast in cinemas worldwide starting on 14 January 2027. Captured live from Wyndham’s Theatre in London, the production brings together a high-profile cast led by two-time Tony Award winner Christine Baranski and Academy Award nominee Richard E. Grant.
The cinema release offers international audiences a chance to experience the ongoing West End production, marking a major milestone for its leading lady. The project serves as Christine Baranski’s official West End debut and her first return to the stage in two decades. She stars as the eccentric retired actress Judith Bliss, while Richard E. Grant plays her novelist husband, David Bliss.
The Chaos of the Bliss Family Country Retreat
Written by Noël Coward in 1924 and premiering in London in 1925, Hay Fever remains one of his most frequently performed works. The story centers on the self-absorbed Bliss family during what was supposed to be a quiet weekend at their English country home.
Instead of finding peace, the household collapses into chaos when each of the four family members-Judith, David, and their grown children Simon and Sorel-secretly invites an outside guest to stay for the weekend without telling the others. The resulting collision of eccentric personalities and bad manners drives their unwitting guests into a state of hilarious confusion.
Star-Studded Cast and Creative Team
Directed by Emily Burns, the West End mounting has earned strong praise from critics since opening at Wyndham’s Theatre. Reviewers have highlighted the production as a fun, frothy, and masterfully paced revival of Coward’s comedy.
Alongside Baranski and Grant, the cast features Nancy Carroll as Myra Arundel, Will Close as Simon Bliss, Charles Edwards as Richard Greatham, Ophelia Lovibond as Sorel Bliss, Ash Hunter as Sandy Tyrell, Lucy Karczewski as Jackie Coryton, and Jo McInnes as Clara. The company is rounded out by Helena Antoniou, Charlotte Avery, Alan Drake, and Shaun Mendum.
The creative team includes set and costume design by Frankie Bradshaw, lighting design by Oliver Fenwick, sound design by Tingying Dong, fight and intimacy direction by Bethan Clark, dialect coaching by Danièle Lydon, associate direction by Blythe Stewart, and casting by Jim Carnahan CSA and Liz Fraser CSA.
National Theatre Live Screenings in 2027
The broadcast is part of National Theatre Live’s established cinema distribution model, which captures live performances in front of an audience and reaches venues across the UK and international territories. Screenings of Hay Fever will begin on 14 January 2027.
Additionally, National Theatre Live confirmed that Jack Thorne’s acclaimed play The Motive and the Cue, directed by Sam Mendes and starring Mark Gatiss and Johnny Flynn, will return to cinema screens beginning on 18 February 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hay Fever in Cinemas
When will Hay Fever be broadcast in cinemas?
National Theatre Live will release the filmed version of the West End production in cinemas starting on 14 January 2027.
Who stars in the 2027 cinema screening of Hay Fever?
The production stars Christine Baranski as Judith Bliss and Richard E. Grant as David Bliss, alongside a supporting cast featuring Nancy Carroll, Will Close, Charles Edwards, and Ophelia Lovibond.
Where was the production filmed?
The stage production was captured live in front of an audience at Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End.
Is this Christine Baranski’s first West End appearance?
Yes, this production marks Christine Baranski’s official West End debut and her first return to live stage acting in 20 years.
What other productions are coming to cinemas via NT Live in 2027?
Alongside Hay Fever, National Theatre Live is bringing back Jack Thorne’s play The Motive and the Cue, starring Mark Gatiss and Johnny Flynn, to cinemas in February 2027.
