TRANSFERRING TO THE WEST END!

Mark Rylance is hot property at the moment. Fresh from scheming his way to the top of the Tudor court in BBC drama Wolf Hall, Rylance has in the meantime been wowing audiences at the Globe as the beleaguered King Phillipe V of Spain, plagued by insomnia until help arrives in an unlikely form.

Following rave reviews, this fascinating tribute to the therapeutic benefits of music will be transferring to the West End for a strictly limited time only. The Duke of York's Theatre will undergo a transformation back to the 1730s, lit almost exclusively by candlelight, to bring the atmosphere of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse to the heart of the West End. Music will be played using authentic Baroque-era instruments, with the role of Farinelli played by a counter-tenor (yet to be announced).

WHAT IS Farinelli And The King ABOUT?

King Phillipe V of Spain suffers from severe insomnia, which is causing him and his wife great distress. Desperate to help her ailing husband, the Queen sends for the famed castrato Farinelli, whose legendary voice has been likened to that of an angel. Astounded and cheered by the extraordinary singer, Philippe invites Farinelli to stay with him at court, in order to keep away his existential fug. In turn, Farinelli finds solace away from the opera houses and crushing celebrity that follows him everywhere. But ultimately, will he be content to remain in the shadows at the bedside of a king, or will the fame and glory of the opera houses tempt him back into the limelight?

Formerly the Artistic Director of The Globe, Rylance an esteemed Shakespearean actor with who has garnered many Olivier and Tony Awards over the years. Considered one of the world's finest stage actors, rivalling the reputation of Sir Lawrence, this actor's star power has been boosted by his primetime tv role as Thomas Cromwell in BBC's Wolf Hall, so make sure you book for this blink-and-you'll-miss-it West End transfer, as it is anticipated to be a fast sell-out.

DID YOU KNOW?

Farinelli And The King is a family affair in more ways than one; the play's author Claire van Kampen is none other than Rylance's wife.