It is life’s great aim. To find a way to be honest with oneself, even as the world pretends around you.

★★★★★ ‘One of the best new plays in years: profoundly moving and wildly funny… a triumph’ WhatsOnStage

★★★★ ‘Sparky chemistry, nuanced performances’ The Stage

★★★★ ‘rapier-sharp historical romp’ The Express

‘Rich and witty and playful’ Financial Times

‘Tender, musical and funny’ The Guardian 

‘An intriguing new play’ The Telegraph

‘Exhilarating’ The Observer 

Linck & Mülhahn has been nominated for the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the oldest and largest international prize awarded to women+ playwrights. 

Dashing soldier Anastasius Linck has no intention of falling in love, but a chance encounter with the rebellious Catharina Mülhahn changes everything. As they begin to forge a relationship that breaks boundaries and rejects the rigid rules of their society, they find themselves confronted by a world determined to tear them apart.

Ruby Thomas’ epic and playful modern love story is inspired by eighteenth century court records and the extraordinary true lives of this gender pioneering couple. It follows her two sold-out plays for Hampstead Downstairs: The Animal Kingdom (‘pure theatre’ – The Guardian) and Either (‘marks Ruby Thomas out as a daring and exciting new voice’ – The Arts Desk).

Owen Horsley directs at Hampstead for the first time; his credits for the RSC include the recent double bill of Rebellion and Wars of the Roses, as well as Maydays and Salomé.

Maggie Bain (Man to Man, Wales Millennium Centre; Henry V, Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre) plays the role of Anastasius Linck with Helena Wilson (Jack Absolute Flies Again, National Theatre; The Lady from the Sea, Donmar) playing the role of Catharina Mülhahn and Lucy Black (The Durrells, ITV; The Haystack, Hampstead Theatre) playing Mother.

They are joined by Daniel Abbott, David Carr, Marty Cruickshank, Kammy Darweish, Qasim Mahmood, Leigh Quinn and Timothy Speyer.

Linck & Mülhahn has been kindly supported by the Godwin family.
We are grateful to the T.S. Eliot Foundation for commissioning Linck & Mülhahn.