Farinelli and the King transfers to the West End

Sonia Friedman Productions have announced that they will transfer the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse's current production of Farinelli and the King, which stars Mark Rylance to the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End this September for a limited run.

Written by Claire van Kampen, the production is directed by John Dove and designed by Jonathan Fensom. It opened at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse on 20 Feb 2015, following previews from 11 February and is scheduled to end its run this weekend on 8 March 2015.

Set in eighteen-century Spain and Italy the play tells the true story of Farinelli, the world's most famous castrato, and his decision to trade fame and fortune for a live of servitude at the court of King Philip V.

Mark Rylance was last seen in the West End in Tim Carroll's productions of 'Twelfth Night' and 'Richard III', which subsequently transferred to Broadway. His other recent theatre credits include Johnny 'Rooster' Byron in Jez Butterworth's 'Jerusalem', at the Royal Court, West End, and Broadway and this year he also starred as Thomas Cromwell in the BBC2 adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Booker Prize-winning novel 'Wolf Hall'.

The Duke of York's Theatre will be transformed especially for the production, lit almost exclusively by the glow of candle-light and with live music played on Baroque instruments.

Further information, including full casting, dates and ticket information will be announced at a later date.