Playwright and director Terry Johnson is to return to the stage for the first time in 35 years to star in his new show Ken at the Hampstead Theatre Downstairs.
The writer/director of the Olivier Award-nominated Mrs Henderson Presents will be directed by Lisa Spirling in his new play about the maverick mischief maker and artist inspirer Ken Campbell. The show runs in Hampstead’s Downstairs space from 7 April to 7 May.
Johnson’s latest play is set in 1978 at a time when an aspiring young playwright is struggling with a piece for the Royal Court. The phone rings and the voice at the other end, a man named Ken, is about to teach the playwright the pleasures and perils of serendipity.
Among Johnson’s previous plays are the Olivier Award-winning Hysteria and Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle And Dick, along with Dead Funny, The Graduate and Hitchcock Blonde.
Apart from Johnson, casting for Ken is yet to be announced.
Ken plays as part of a spring/summer season at Hampstead Theatre that also includes Neil LaBute’s comedy Reasons To Be Happy, Howard Brenton’s new play Lawrence After Arabia, and Wild, the new comedy from Bull and King Charles III writer Mike Bartlett.