Roger Allam will play the role of writer and teacher Leonard, originally played on Broadway by Alan Rickman, in a new production that will be directed by Terry Johnson. Additional casting will be announced at a later time.

The play revolves around four aspiring young writers who have paid big bucks to seek wisdom at the feet of the caustic Leonard – once a celebrated novelist, now a cantankerous editor, teacher and grandstanding chronicler of third-world war zones. Under Leonard’s brilliant but brutally unorthodox tuition, competition for his approval is intense and the students clash. Alliances are made and broken – in bed and out, tactical schemes are hatched - how far are they willing to go to make it to the top?

Allam was previously seen at Hampstead Theatre in 2007 in Antony Sher's The Giant, and last worked with Terry Johnson in La Cage Aux Folles at the West End's Playhouse Theatre. Other recent theatre includes The Tempest and Henry IV Parts I &  II, for the latter of which he won the 2011 Olivier Award for Best Actor (Globe) and Uncle Vanya (Chichester's Minerva). He famously originated the role of Javert in the London premiere of Les Miserables for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Films include "Girls Night Out," "The Book Thief," "The Iron Lady," "The Woman In Black," "The Queen" and "Tamara Drewe," for which he won the Peter Sellers Award for Comedy at the Evening Standard Film Awards 2011. TV includes "Endeavour I & II," "The Politician's Husband," "Parade’s End" and "Game Of Thrones."

To book tickets, contact the box office on 020 7722 9301, or visit www.hampsteadtheatre.com.