London's Hampstead Theatre has earned an enviable reputation for reviving acclaimed works, as well as creating new, innovative productions.
Under the aegis of award-winning artistic director Edward Hall, Hampstead, which boasts two houses, Main Stage and Hampstead Downstairs, has helped shape modern British theater.
Hall has taken his shows, dramas and musicals alike, to the West End -- Sunny Afternoon won Best New Musical at the 2015 Olivier Awards -- and streamed them on the Internet. Or as the Daily Mail put it: "Hampstead is perhaps the most reliably interesting theatre in the country."
One of those interest points is the upcoming The Festival at Hampstead Theater.
Capitalizing on its initial success last year, which attracted an impressive 2,500 people, the second annual festival takes place March 18-20, showcasing 33 events, from theater to dance, publishing to screenplays. There are even a few events for kids.
It's akin to a literary festival, but with a stronger performance angle.
As Festival producer Issy van Randwyck explains: "Over the course of three days, a wonderfully wide variety of artists, from a cross section of disciplines, will share their stories and processes of work, via panel discussions. In some cases, they will host practical hands-on workshops in writing and performing for both adults and children. You name it-- we're discussing it."
The stellar lineup includes playwright Sir David Hare (Skylight, The Blue Room, director/choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne, (Edward Scissorhands, Swan Lake), (pictured here), Howard Brenton (The Arrest of Ai WeiWei), author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Deborah Moggach, and actors Tim Pigott-Smith and Imogen Stubbs, among others. 
Hampstead Theatre's simple mission "has always been to create original theatre without creative restriction," she explains. "From its inception, Hampstead attracted a generation of talent -- Harold Pinter testing new plays to Mike Leigh, Michael Frayn, Terry Johnson and more."
That spirit of artistic enterprise fuels the Festival.
"It is designed to give you the opportunity to be up close and meet some of the most original thinkers in British culture today," says van Randwyck. "Who knows? It might spark your inner-creative to write that play, novel or screenplay you've always wanted to write, but didn't know how."
The Festival At Hampstead Theater, London, March 18-20; thefestivalathampsteadtheatre.co.uk/