August, 1922. The most famous man in England has vanished without a trace: T.E. Lawrence has completely disappeared. But in the idyllic calm of the village of Ayot St Lawrence, on the top floor of the home of Mr and Mrs Bernard Shaw, the ‘uncrowned King of Arabia’ is hiding – with slabs of homemade carrot cake for comfort.

Wearied by his romanticised persona and worldwide fame, disgusted with his country and himself, Lawrence is craving normality. But when you’re a brilliant archaeologist, scholar, linguist, writer and diplomat – as well as a legendary desert warrior – how can you ever be normal? And beyond the Shaws’ garden wall, nobody cares how he feels: England just wants its hero back. Can he ever return?

Howard Brenton’s new play, commissioned to mark the centenary of the start of the Arab revolt, finds Lawrence trapped in his love/hate relationship with the limelight, tormented by ghosts and haunted by broken promises.

Brenton makes a highly anticipated return to Hampstead following the critically acclaimed historical epics Drawing the Line, 55 Days and The Arrest of Ai Weiwei.

John Dove is a regular collaborator of Howard Brenton, having directed his plays In Extremis, the award-winning Anne Boleyn and Dr Scroggy’s War (all Shakespeare’s Globe). 

Jack Laskey will play T.E. Lawrence while Jeff Rawle will play George Bernard Shaw and Geraldine James will star as Charlotte Shaw. The full cast includes Sam Alexander, William Chubb, Khalid Laith and Rosalind March.

Photos taken by Alastair Muir.