David Hare’s The Moderate Soprano to transfer to the West End

David Hare's play The Moderate Soprano will transfer to the West End following a sold-out run at Hampstead Theatre in 2015.

Directed by Jeremy Herrin, the play tells the story of John Christie, the founder of Glyndebourne Opera House, and Audrey Mildmay, a soprano singer. When the play first ran, it starred Roger Allam and Nancy Carroll, and the pair will reprise their roles in the West End, with further casting to be announced.

The Moderate Soprano will run at the Duke of York's from 5^th April to 30^th June 2018, with an official opening night on 12^th April.

Award-winning theatre and opera designer Bob Crowley will provide new set and costume designs for the West End production.

Reviewing the original production for LondonTheatre.co.uk, Mark Shenton hailed the piece "a gift of a story", saying director Herrin "orchestrates it with fine feeling and elicits beautiful performances".

On the announcement, playwright Hare said: "Few people know the extraordinary story of how an eccentric English schoolmaster bumped accidentally into three refugees from Hitler's Germany, and formed one of the world's great opera houses in the 1930s in the middle of the English countryside. But even fewer know that Glyndebourne's true founder was John Christie's adored wife, Audrey Mildmay, whom he called 'the moderate soprano."

Gus Christie, John's grandson and current executive chairman of Gyldebourne, added: "I am delighted that David Hare's play about the origins of Glyndebourne, which sheds light on my grandparents' extraordinary vision and the creative tensions that existed in pulling it off, is coming to the West End in the spring."

The Moderate Soprano is at the Duke of York's Theatre from 5^th April to 20^th June 2018.

The Moderate Soprano Tickets go on sale Tuesday 19^th December.