David Hare's BEHIND THE BEAUTIFUL FOREVERS Opens Tonight at the National Theatre

The National Theatre presents David Hare's new play Behind the Beautiful Forevers, directed by Rufus Norris and starring Meera Syal and Shane Zaza.

Behind The Beautiful Forevers is a new play by David Hare from the book by Katherine Boo. It began previews on 10 November, with press night set for tonight 18 November. The production is designed by Katrina Lindsay, with lighting by Paule Constable and sound by Paul Arditti.

The cast also features Hiran Abeysekera, Esh Alladi, Nathalie Armin, Pal Aron, Vincent Ebrahim, Sartaj Garewal, Mariam Haque, Thusitha Jayasundera, Muzz Khan, Ranjit Krishnamma, Manjeet Mann, Anjli Mohindra, Ronak Patani, Bharti Patel, Anneika Rose, Chook Sibtain, Gavi Singh Chera, Stephanie Street, Anjana Vasan and Assad Zaman.

In the play, India is surging with global ambition. But beyond the luxury hotels surrounding Mumbai airport lies a makeshift slum, full of people with plans of their own. Zehrunisa and her son Abdul aim to recycle enough rubbish to fund a proper house. Sunil, twelve and stunted, wants to eat until he's as tall as Kalu the thief. Asha seeks to steal government anti-poverty funds to turn herself into a 'first-class person', while her daughter Manju intends to become the slum's first female graduate. But their schemes are fragile; global recession threatens the garbage trade, and another slum-dweller is about to make an accusation that will destroy herself and shatter the neighbourhood.

Katherine Boo spent three years in Annawadi recording the lives of its residents. From her uncompromising book, winner of the National Book Award for Non-Fiction 2012, David Hare has fashioned a tumultuous play on an epic scale.

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