The Seagull is one of the great plays about writing. It superbly captures the struggle for new forms, the frustrations and fulfilments of putting words on a page.

The Royal Court pioneered asking leading playwrights to work on classic plays, as Christopher Hampton famously did with Uncle Vanya. He returns now with a new version of this classic, directed by Ian Rickson, in his last production as Artistic Director of the theatre.

Kristin Scott Thomas has recently starred in Three Sisters and As You Desire Me in the West End. Her film credits include The English Patient, Gosford Park and The Horse Whisperer. Katherine Parkinson was recently in Other Hands at the Soho Theatre and The IT Crowd on Channel 4.