About The Play

World Premiere of a play by Christopher Hampton, directed by Howard Davies with set designs be Tim Hatley, costumes by Jenny Beaven, lighting by Peter Mumford, music by Dominic Muldowney and sound by Christopher Shutt.

The Talking Cure deals with the early years of Jung and his decision to experiment, using Freud's controversial new method of psycho-analysis, with a young Russian patient, Sabine Spielrein. The success of the experiment and the blossoming of his relationship with Sabine inaugurates, haunts and ultimately poisons Jung's friendship with Freud; and the ideas and conflicts which engulf the three of them embody, as Jung comes to realise, the destructive forces which are to overwhelm the disastrous century ahead.

The cast includes Ralph Fiennes as 'Jung', James Hazeldine as 'Freud' and Jodhi May as 'Sabine Spielrein'.

Ralph Fiennes returns to the National, where he last appeared in Fathers and Sons, Ting Tang Mine and Six Characters in Search of an Author in 1987. Since then he has forged an international stage and screen career; his theatre work includes the title roles in Hamlet, Ivanov, Richard II and Coriolanus (all for the Almeida at venues in London and abroad), Edmund in King Lear and Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost (RSC). His many films include Schindler's List, Quiz Show, The English Patient, Oscar and Lucinda, The End of the Affair, Spider and the forthcoming Uptown Girl and Red Dragon.

James Hazeldine was last seen at the National as Joe Keller in Howard Davies's award-winning production of All My Sons, opposite both Julie Walters and Laurie Metcalf. He has played many leading roles for the RSC, Royal Court and in the West End, including Harry Hope in The Iceman Cometh (Almeida, Old Vic and Broadway); at the National he has appeared in Chips With Everything, Small Change and Kick for Touch. Films and television include Midsomer Murders, Fat Friends, Dalziel and Pascoe, The Vice, The Corsican Brothers and The Ruling Class.

Jodhi May makes her debut at the National. Her films include The Last of the Mohicans, Sister My Sister (Best Actress award at Cannes, and the Evening Standard and Variety Club Best Newcomer awards), The Woodlanders, The Gambler, House of Mirth and The Escapist, and her television work includes Daniel Deronda, Tipping the Velvet, The Mayor of Casterbridge, The Turn of the Screw, Warriors and The Aristocrats. Her recent stage work includes Far Away directed by Peter Brook (Paris), Platonov (Almeida) and Jerusalem Syndrome (Soho Theatre).

Christopher Hampton's plays include White Chameleon, Alice's Adventures Under Ground and Tales From Hollywood (all at the National) and The Philanthropist; among his many translations and adaptations are Les Liaisons Dangereuses, An Enemy of The People and Yasmina Reza's Art, The Unexpected Man and Conversations After a Burial. For television he has adapted The History Man, Hotel Du Lac and The Ginger Tree; his film scripts include Carrington and Secret Agent (which he also directed), The Honorary Consul, Dangerous Liaisons and Mary Reilly.

Howard Davies won the 2001 Olivier Award for Best Director for his multi award-winning production of Arthur Miller's All My Sons at the Cottesloe and Lyttelton Theatres. His previous productions for the National include The Crucible, Battle Royal, Flight and Chips With Everything. Most recently he directed an award-winning production of Private Lives in London, which transferred equally successfully to Broadway. His extensive theatre work also includes The Iceman Cometh, winning the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Director, in London and on Broadway.

Previews 6 December

Opens 12 December 2002
Closes 5 February 2003

Booking for performances from 20 January 2003 opens on 16 December 2002

Performance Schedule: see Calendar

Performance Length: to be announced

Prices: œ27.00 œ15.00 œ10.00 (restricted view)