Hampstead lines up Linck & Mülhahn

Hampstead Theatre will see the world premiere of Linck & Mülhahn, a new play written by Ruby Thomas and directed by Owen Horsley.

Inspired by the real life of an 18th century gender pioneer, the story takes place in 1759 Prussia, where dashing musketeer and skilled seducer Anastasius Linck has no intention of falling in love. But when he meets passionate young Catharina Mülhahn, so strong is the attraction that the match becomes inevitable.

As the couple strive to build a radical kind of marriage, Catharina’s mother becomes obsessed with her mysterious son-in-law and sets out to uncover his secret – a secret that, if revealed, threatens to engulf them all.

Maggie Bain (Man to Man) stars as Anastasius Linck, with Helena Wilson (Jack Absolute Flies Again) as Catharina Mülhahn. Lucy Black (The Durrells) plays Mother, with the cast also including Daniel Abbott, David Carr, Marty Cruikshank, Kammy Darweish, Qasim Mahmood, Leigh Quinn and Timothy Speyer.

Linck & Mülhahn follows Thomas’ two sold-out plays for Hampstead Downstairs: The Animal Kingdom, and Either. The show also marks the first Hampstead project for Horsley, whose credits include Rebellion and War of the Roses for the RSC.

The show is designed by Simon Wells with lighting design by Matt Daw, sound design by Max Pappenheim and assistant direction by Dewi Johnson. The fight and intimacy direction is by Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper Brown.

Linck & Mülhahn will run at Hampstead Theatre from January 27-March 4, 2023.