Hampstead Theatre has unveiled an ambitious Spring 2027 season featuring four world premieres alongside the first major London revival of a modern political classic. Spanning true-life encounters, Cold War espionage, and heartfelt family drama, the line-up unites established playwrights with exciting emerging voices. Producer and Chief Executive Greg Ripley-Duggan praised the programme for supporting writers at every stage of their careers, bringing together a titan of British theatre and fresh talent across both stages.
The Main Stage opens with the world premiere of Alexis Zegerman’s Portrait of a Man, directed by Anna Ledwich from 11 February to 20 March. Inspired by true events in 1962, the play follows Expressionist artist Elaine de Kooning as she travels to Florida to paint an official portrait of President John F. Kennedy. Next, playwright Michael Frayn returns with Democracy, directed by Jeremy Sams from 26 March to 1 May, dramatizing West German Chancellor Willy Brandt’s historic Cold War diplomacy while his devoted assistant secretly spies for East Germany.
In the Downstairs studio, Josh Azouz presents the world premiere of The Rabbi, The Wife & The Prick, directed by Hannah Hauer-King and produced by MMXX from 26 February to 3 April, following a woman’s darkly comic battle to secure a Jewish divorce from her stubborn ex-husband. Recent INSPIRE graduate Isabella Waldron then debuts It Never Rains In Kennebunkport, directed by Alice Hamilton from 9 April to 15 May, charting a Devon teenager’s mission to win the attention of George W. Bush, whom she believes is her father.
Concluding the Downstairs line-up from 4 June to 10 July is Driftweed, directed by Júlia Levai, marking Chloë Lawrence-Taylor’s return after her 2025 sell-out Personal Values. Set on a British coast, the drama explores family and belonging as rising sea levels and eviction notices threaten a cliff-edge bungalow. With further casting to be announced soon, priority booking for Patrons opens today ahead of general public sale at 10.30am on 19 November via the official website.
