Christopher Hampton’s play is scheduled to run at the Donmar Warehouse through Oct. 15.

Russell Beale has, in quick succession, played in Macbeth at the Almeida, Julius Caesar alongside Ralph Fiennes and Anton Lesser at the Barbican (and European tour) and now the Hampton. And, his role as a university academic recalls another recent success of his, in Tom Stoppard’s Jumpers.

The play depicts a frightened state where the Prime Minister, his cabinet and England’s finest writers are being killed. A professor ponders, well, everything really.

Hampton’s other plays have included Les Liasons Dangereuses (which became the movie "Dangerous Liasons"), Tales From Hollywood (also recently revived at the Donmar) and Savages. His musicals include Sunset Boulevard, for which he won a Tony, and Dracula.

Alongside Russell Beale, the Donmar cast features Simon Bubb, Siobhan Hewlett, Anna Madeley and Danny Webb. David Grindley, another of the West End’s busiest theatre folk (with Journey’s End, The Philadelphia Story and What The Butler Saw among his recent credits) directs. Tim Shortall designs, with lighting by Rick Fisher and sound by Gregory Clarke. For more information, call (0)20 8544 7412 or visit www.donmarwarehouse.com.