Hampstead Theatre Ends Run of ANDRESEN'S ENGLISH, 3 May

Andersen's English by Sebastian Barry and directed by Max Stafford-Clark will end its run at the Hampstead Theatre on 3 May.

Max Stafford-Clark directs Andersen's English, a new play by Sebastian Barry set in the home of Charles Dickens as celebrated children's writer Hans Christian Andersen arrives unannounced for an extended stay.

To the lonely and eccentric guest, the members of Dickens' household seem to live a life of unreachable bliss. But with his broken English, Andersen fails to recognise the storms brewing within the family.

Andersen's English is a haunting new play, rich in characters and touched with a wistful humour.

Dickens' private and family life have been the subject of much speculation, in particular his strange and gradual alienation of his wife, Catherine. A much loved public figure, he was also an intensely private man. This play explores his home-life, the people close to him, and what happens when a stranger enters behind closed doors.

Sebastian Barry's novel The Secret Scripture won the 2008 Costa prize, and he has been twice short-listed for the Booker prize. His plays include the international hit The Steward of Christendom, Our Lady of Sligo and Hinterland.

Max Stafford-Clark directs a cast including David Rintoul (Doctor Findlay, Pride and Prejudice) as Charles Dickens, Niamh Cusack (Heartbeat, Always and Everyone) as his wife Catherine Dickens, and Danny Sapani (Out of Joint's world-touring Macbeth) as Hans Christian Andersen.

Full cast: Niamh Cusack, Lisa Kerr, Alastair Mavor, Kathryn O'Reilly, David Rintoul and Danny Sapani and Lorna Stewart.

Designed by Lucy Osborne, with lighting by Tim Bray and sound by Carolyn Downing. The musical director is Julian Littman.

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