Ralph Fiennes stars in The Talking Cure at the National beginning Dec. 6.

Written by Christopher (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) Hampton, The Talking Cure deals with the early years of Jung and his decision to experiment, using Freud's controversial new method of psychoanalysis, with a young Russian patient, Sabine Spielrein.

The success of the experiment and the blossoming of his relationship with Sabine inaugurates, haunts and ultimately poisons Jung's friendship with Freud; and the ideas and conflicts that engulf the three of them embody, as Jung comes to realize, the destructive forces that are to overwhelm the disastrous century ahead.

Stage and screen star Ralph Fiennes plays Carl Jung, James Hazeldine plays Sigmund Freud, and Jodhi May plays Sabine Spilrein.

Fiennes is clearly going to have a theatrical year in 2003 — as well as The Talking Cure, he will star in Ibsen's Brand (directed by Adrian Noble) at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket next May.

—By Theatrenow