The National Theatre has commissioned Mike Leigh to create another play for the Cottesloe.

In his unique collaborative way, Leigh is working with a company of actors, together with his regular award-winning creative team, to explore characters, relationships, themes and ideas.

His many stage plays include Babies Grow Old (RSC 1974), Abigail's Party (Hampstead Theatre 1977), Goose-Pimples (Hampstead Theatre 1981), It's A Great Big Shame! (Theatre Royal Stratford East 1993), Two Thousand Years (National Theatre 2005) and Ecstasy (1979), which has recently been revived under Leighs direction at Hampstead and in the West End.

Mike Leigh is re-united on this project with Lesley Manville - his most frequent collaborator - and with regulars Marion Bailey, Sam Kelly and Wendy Nottingham. He worked with them variously on the films Who's Who (1978), Grown-Ups (1980), Meantime (1984), The Short & Curlies (1987), High Hopes (1988), Secrets & Lies (1996), Topsy-Turvy (1999), All or Nothing (2002), Vera Drake (2004), Another Year (2010) and A Running Jump (2012).