Hampstead Theatre announces 2027 season

Michael Frayn returns to Hampstead Theatre with his Tony Award-nominated play Democracy, directed by Jeremy Sams, from 26 March – 1 May.

Summary

• Hampstead Theatre has announced the first shows in its 2027 season
• Michael Frayn returns with the first major London revival of Democracy
• The season also features premieres of Portrait of a Man; The Rabbit, The Wife & The Price; It Never Rains In Kennebunkport, and Driftweed

Hampstead Theatre has announced its programming for early 2027, including four world premieres and the first major London revival of Michael Frayn's Democracy.

The season opens on the Main Stage with Alexis Zegerman’s Portrait of a Man, directed by Anna Ledwich. Running from 11 February – 20 March, the play is inspired by the true life encounter between artist Elaine de Kooning and John F Kennedy, as the President sat down to have his official portrait painted.

Frayn returns to Hampstead Theatre with his Tony Award-nominated play Democracy, directed by Jeremy Sams, from 26 March – 1 May. Set in West Germany in 1969, the play is a thrilling study of power, loyalty, deception and political ambition, as operative Günter Guillaume is placed within Chancellor Willy Brandt's inner circle to spy on him.

In Hampstead’s Downstairs studio, Josh Azouz’s The Rabbi, The Wife & The Prick will run from 26 February to 3 April, and is a dark comedy about love and faith that follows Rene as she struggles to get the Get - a 1500-year-old Jewish divorce bill — from her ex-husband. Hannah Hauer-King directs.

Also Downstairs, Isabella Waldron premieres It Never Rains In Kennebunkport, directed by Hampstead Theatre Associate Director Alice Hamilton. Running from 9 April – 15 May, the play follows teenager Sadie, who becomes convinced that George W. Bush is her father and sets out to raise money for a 9/11 Memorial Garden to win his attention.

Personal Values writer Chloë Lawrence-Taylor returns to Hampstead with Driftweed, directed by Júlia Levai from 4 June – 10 July. The new play explores rising tensions and sea levels in a British coastal town.

Hampstead Theatre’s Producer and Chief Executive, Greg Ripley-Duggan said: “With these five thrilling plays we bring together some of the most exciting writers in theatre today, both familiar and new to Hampstead’s audiences. The season gives us the opportunity to support writers at every stage of their career – a titan of British theatre to established writers and those just beginning to make their mark. Each production is, in its own way, a perfect fit for our stages and together they offer an exceptional programme of compelling stories. Come and join us.”

Further programming and casting is to be announced.

Check back for Hampstead Theatre 2027 shows on LondonTheatre.co.uk