Lolita Chakrabarti's newest play, Hamnet, has already extended its West End engagement, before beginning performances September 30. The transfer follows the plays sold out world premiere at Stratford-upon-Avon.

Hamnet will begin performances at London's Garrick Theatre September 30, for a run through February 17, surpassing the original end date of January 6 by 6 weeks. 

Directed by Erica Whyman, the West End production will star Madeleine Mantock as Agnes/Anne and Tom Varey as William, alongside original Stratford cast members Sarah Belcher, Will Brown, Haydn Burke, Ajani Cabey, Faye Campbell, Frankie Hastings, Karl Haynes, Alex Jarrett, Hannah McPake, Elizabeth Rider, Rose Riley, Harmony Rose-Bremner, Obioma Ugoala and Peter Wight. They will be joined by Gabriel Akuwudike, Phoebe Campbell, Mhairi Gayer, and Liza Sadovy.

The work, described as "a love letter to passion, birth, grief, and the magic of nature," is based on Maggie O'Farrell's best-selling novel of the same name, which explores the personal life of William Shakespeare and his wife after they suffer the loss of their 11 year old son to the plague.

Chakrabarti—whose Life of Pi played Broadway last season—is joined by a creative team that includes RSC designer Tom Piper, lighting designer Prema Mehta, sound designer Xana, music director Alice Brown, movement director Ayse Tashkiran, original music composer Oğuz Kaplangi, fight director Kate Waters, casting director Amy Ball, and dramaturg Pippa Hill.

The play has already been optioned by Hera Pictures, with a film in development with Neal Street Productions, which was founded by Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris and Caro Newling, and Amblin Partners. Chiara Atik is writing the screenplay.

For more information, visit NimaxTheatres.com.