It’s an adaptation of the 1998 movie directed and written by Thomas Vinterberg and part of the Dogme film movement, co-produced by Marla Rubin, who has said that she wants this to be the first in a series of Dogme stage adaptations.

Festen depicts a Danish patriarch, Helge Klingenfelt, who is celebrating his 60th birthday with his family at a beautiful old hotel. With him are his wife Else, daughter Helene and sons Christian and Michael. All is ready for a regular celebration, until Christian opens the lid on a family secret.

The stage adaptation is by David Eldridge, whose play Under the Blue Sky won the Time Out Live Award 2001 for Best New Play. His other plays include Serving It Up, A Week with Tony, Summer Being and Falling. Young Vic associate Rufus Norris directs, with set designs by Ian MacNeil. Sound is by Paul Arditti and music by Orlando Gough.

The cast includes Jane Asher, Sam Beazley, Sam Cox, Tom Hardy, Jonny Lee Miller, Andrew Mayd, Ruth Millar, Gary Oliver, Lisa Palfrey, Robert Pugh, Patrick Robinson, Claire Rushbrook and Michael Thomas. Hardy recently won the Evening Standard Best Newcomer Award, and was nominated for an Olivier Award in the same category.

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