A series of stories drawn from Michael Frayn’s latest book Matchbox Theatre will be brought to life on stage at the Hampstead Theatre this spring.
Marking Frayn’s first stage work since 2008, Matchbox Theatre: An Evening Of Short Entertainments will play at the Swiss Cottage venue from 25 April (press night 4 May) to 6 June.
The series of conversations, sketches and meditations take a typically funny and ingenious look at how we live today, blurring the boundaries between his work for page and for stage, and promises to take audiences into a parallel universe that is both hilariously entertaining and absurdly familiar.
Directed by Hamish McColl, Matchbox Theatre: An Evening Of Short Entertainments marks the third premiere of his work to be staged at the Hampstead Theatre following Now You Know and Clouds, the latter of which transferred to the West End.
In 2013, the Copenhagen playwright was awarded a Special Award at the Olivier Awards with MasterCard, an accolade that recognised his significant contribution to the stage and followed three previous Olivier Award wins for Best Comedy (Noises Off and Donkeys’ Years) and Best New Play (Benefactors).
Frayn’s latest work will open at the Hampstead Theatre following Zoë Wanamaker’s stage return in the transfer of Chichester Festival Theatre’s Stevie.
Casting for Matchbox Theatre is still to be announced.