Tracey Scott Wilson’s acclaimed play The Story will make its UK premiere at the National Theatre this summer, bringing a powerful newsroom thriller about race, ambition and journalistic truth to one of Britain’s most prominent stages.
Running in the Olivier Theatre from 27 August to 24 October 2026, the production is directed by Clint Dyer, whose previous work includes Death of England. The cast includes BAFTA Award-winner Letitia Wright, best known for Black Panther, alongside Ashley Thomas, Lorraine Toussaint and Wilf Scolding.
The Story is set inside a fast-moving newsroom, where the pressure to break a major story begins to expose deeper questions about power, race, ethics and who controls the public narrative. As shocking new evidence pulls the characters further into the case, each is forced to confront what they are prepared to risk in order to tell their version of the truth.
At the centre of the play is an ambitious Black reporter navigating the pressures of the media industry, where stories are shaped, challenged and sometimes distorted before they reach the public. Wilson’s drama asks urgent questions about representation, professional ambition and the consequences of deciding whose voices are believed.
For Black History Month audiences, The Story offers a timely exploration of race and the media, examining how institutions shape public understanding and how Black professionals often have to negotiate visibility, credibility and power within complex systems.
The production also marks a major stage moment for Letitia Wright, who joins the National Theatre cast following an internationally recognised screen career. Her appearance in The Story is expected to bring new audiences to a drama that speaks directly to contemporary debates around journalism, trust, identity and accountability.
With its focus on newsroom culture, racial politics and the fight to define truth, The Story arrives at a moment when questions about media responsibility and representation remain sharply relevant.
The Story runs at the National Theatre’s Olivier Theatre from 27 August to 24 October 2026.
Event details
Venue: Olivier Theatre, National Theatre, Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PX
Dates: 27 August – 24 October 2026
Tickets: From £30
More information: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/the-story/