The Royal National Theatre's award-winning, sell-out production of Patrick Marber's new play Closer is transferring to the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue for a limited 12-week season from Tuesday 31 March (with previews from 19 March). Liza Walker will recreate her role of Alice and will be joined by new members of the cast - with TV personality Neil Pearson as Larry and Frances Barber as Anna.

Closer, with a strong appeal for new and younger theatre audiences, examines a modern quartet of young lovers caught up in a web of love, sex and betrayal.

The production originally opened in the RNT's Cottesloe theatre in May 1997 before transferring to the larger Lyttelton theatre in October where it has just finished its run this week. Awards to date have included the Evening Standard Drama Award for Best Comedy and the Time Out Award for Best Play in the West End 1997. It has also been nominated for the Critics Circle Drama Award for Best Play and the Laurence Olivier Awards for Best New Play. Marber was also nominated for 1997 Playwright of the Year.

Closer is written and directed by Marber with design by Vicky Mortimer, lighting by Hugh Vanstone and music by Paddy Cuneen. It is presented in the West End by Robert Fox.

This is the second RNT production this year to transfer to the West End. David Hare's Amy's View, starring Dame Judi Dench, transferred to the Aldwych Theatre in January.