Mirren returns to the National in Phèdre title role

Dame Helen Mirren will return to the National Theatre to appear as a woman in love with her stepson.

The actress will play the title role in Jean Racine's classical French drama PhËdre, which centres on a love triangle among the rulers of Athens, in a translation by Ted Hughes.

Mirren, 63, was last seen at the National in 2003 when she was nominated for an Olivier for her performance in Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra. Nicholas Hytner, the director of the National Theatre, will direct Mirren as PhËdre, wife of the king of Athens, in the production to open in June next year sponsored by Coutts bank.

Details were announced today as Mr Hytner revealed another bumper year for the theatre. It achieved 87 per cent capacity across 26 productions with 730,000 paid performances, increasing turnover to a record £49 million.

War Horse, the imaginative adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's novel, was the biggest hit. It played to 99 per cent full houses and took £2.3 million at the box office.

The success of Alan Bennett's The History Boys also boosted revenue.

A second run in the West End brought receipts to £5 million since its premiere four years ago.

In total, 920,000 people saw stage performances by the National last year including touring productions and the transfer of Conor McPherson's The Seafarer to New York. The success brought in a surplus of £93,000, meaning the theatre has reached its target of having £1 million in reserves.