Hampstead Theatre’s spring program showcases ‘House of Games’ adapted by Richard Bean, plus premieres, including Sarah Ruhl’s ‘Letters from Max’.
Hampstead Theatre has a new program from March to June. It includes two world premieres and the European premiere of Letters from Max, written by Pulitzer winner Sarah Ruhl.
House of Games is a 1987 film by David Mamet. The movie shows a tricky relationship between a con artist and a psychoanalyst. Richard Bean adapted the story for the stage, with Jonathan Kent directing from May 2 to June 7. This play was originally at The Almeida in 2010.
Margaret Ford has a new client, Billy, who is addicted to sex, drugs, and gambling. He likes high stakes at an illegal poker lounge called House of Games. He draws her into a con man’s world, where she meets the charismatic Mike. They play a complex game where no one knows the rules or the winner.
The season starts with Apex Predator, a supernatural thriller written by John Donnelly. It runs from March 22 to April 26. Mia is struggling with many problems now, as her baby won’t feed, her son is bullied, and her husband can’t talk about his police job.
Mia wants control in her tough life. Her son’s teacher proposes a route toward empowerment, an unusual path that turns victims into hunters.
Personal Values is by Chloë Lawrence-Taylor and shows at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs from April 11 to May 17.
This play is about sisterhood and family ties. Veda and Bea don’t talk anymore, ever since Bea scratched Veda’s car at their dad’s funeral. One morning, Veda arrives at Bea’s home, wanting to address the unsaid things, including Bea’s hoarding habit.
Letters To Max premiered in New York in 2023. It is a comedy about grief and memory and runs from May 23 to June 28.
The play features letters between Ruhl and Max Ritvo, a twenty-year-old Yale student who wrote poetry and did comedy. Max asked Ruhl for help with playwriting, and she became his mentor and friend. After Max learned his childhood cancer returned, they wrote about life, art, poetry, and existence.
Hampstead Theatre partners with community groups, including Age UK Camden, Wac Arts, and The Winch. Yasmin Dawes, Martha Allpress, and Jennifer Davis help by leading creative sessions for locals and hosting community nights. These nights offer tours, events, and show tickets.
Before this season, see East is South, an AI thriller written by Beau Willimon, starring Luke Treadaway and Kaya Scodelario. It runs from February 7 to March 15.
