New Comedy King At Liverpool Playhouse Theatre

Following their previous visits with political smash hit Feelgood at the Playhouse Theatre and most recently the magnificent The Overwhelming at the Everyman, OUT OF JOINT return to Liverpool to present ALISTAIR BEATON's new play KING OF HEARTS. In this delicious new satire, love, politics and royalty collide to hilarious effect in a lively look at the relationship between Britain's establishment and it's people.

Directed by Max Stafford-Clark and Ramin Gray and with a cast including Jeff Raule, Alister Cameron and Justin Salinger KING OF HEARTS comes to the Liverpool Playhouse from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 April 2007.

What a day the PM's had. The Monarch is on life-support following a mishap with a horse and the popular young heir to the throne is in love. The Prince's fiancée is intelligent, attractive, articulate - and Muslim. Will the Prime Minister embrace their romance as an emblem of multicultural Britain? Or will he resort to extreme measures to stop them getting married? As the King hovers between life and death, the politicians grapple with the startling possibility of a Muslim monarchy.

ALISTAIR BEATON's The Trial of Tony Blair was broadcast on Channel 4 in January 2007. He also wrote Feelgood, a hit comedy about New Labour spin. Other writing includes Follow My Leader (Hampstead and Birmingham Rep), Spitting Image and Channel 4's David Blunkett film A Very Social Secretary (2006).

Out of Joint's artistic director MAX STAFFORD-CLARK co-directs with RAMIN GRAY. Ramin is Associate Director at London's Royal Court, directing a host of new plays including Simon Stephens' Motortown in 2006. He recently directed the world première of David Greig's The American Pilot for the RSC. Design is by Tim Shortall, with lighting by Johanna Town and sound by Ian Dickinson.

Founded by Max Stafford-Clark following his artistic directorship of London's Royal Court, OUT OF JOINT's recent shows include The Overwhelming, The Permanent Way (both with the National Theatre); O go my Man, Talking to Terrorists (Royal Court); and a site-specific, Africa-set Macbeth which toured the world in 2005.

In March, KING OF HEARTS co-producer HAMPSTEAD THEATRE celebrates the 4th birthday of its state-of-the-art new venue. For almost 50 years the company has found, developed and produced new plays, and the list of playwrights who had their early work produced at Hampstead Theatre includes Michael Frayn, Brian Friel, Terry Johnson, Hanif Kureishi, Mike Leigh, Abi Morgan, Harold Pinter, Debbie Tucker Green and Roy Williams.

Also co-producing is SONIA FRIEDMAN PRODUCTIONS, one of the West End's most prolific and significant theatre producers. Recent SFP shows include Rock 'n' Roll, Faith Healer (on Broadway) Eh Joe, Bent, Donkeys' Years, The Woman in White, Noises Off, As You Like It , Endgame and On The Third Day (a co-production with Channel 4's The Play's The Thing). Sonia Friedman co-founded Out of Joint, and today plays an active role as a board member. -- www.everymanplayhouse.com