Sarah Ruhl’s acclaimed romantic comedy Stage Kiss is getting a UK premiere this spring at Hampstead Theatre in London.
Stage Kiss will play the main stage of Hampstead Theatre from 8 May to 13 June 2026.
The new production will be directed by Blanche McIntyre (The Assembled Parties, The Invention of Love).
Stage Kiss makes its UK premiere following an acclaimed New York run in 2014.
Sarah Ruhl is a Pulitzer Prize finalist whose other plays include The Clean House, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, and In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play).
What is Stage Kiss about? It’s 1930 New York, Ada is dying and her true love has journeyed from Europe for one final embrace. The estranged lovers are reunited, convinced their love will conquer all obstacles. Except, it’s 2011 New Haven, and these are rehearsals for The Last Kiss, a long-forgotten play. And there’s a plot twist. Art imitates life, and our two leading actors have an explosive romantic history of their own. As opening night approaches, a passionate affair may be waiting in the wings…
Greg Ripley-Duggan, Hampstead Theatre’s Chief Executive, said in a statement that he was “overjoyed to be bringing Blanche McIntyre and Sarah Ruhl back together again at Hampstead, this time for Sarah’s brilliant comedy, Stage Kiss. It’s hard to imagine a play more different from Letters From Max, but if this production is even half as good as that one we’re in for a treat!”
More at Hampstead Theatre
The Stage Kiss announcement follows news that Michael Frayn’s Copenhagen is being revived at Hampstead Theatre starring Alex Kingston and Richard Schiff.
They join other new productions including Bird Grove by Alexi Kaye Campbell, Springwood by Richard Nelson and directed by Stanley Tucci, R.O.I. (Return on Investment) by Aaron Loeb, Firewing by David Pearson, and the UK premiere of We Had A World by Joshua Harmon in Hampstead Downstairs.
Later this year, Hampstead has the UK premiere of Tony Award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo by David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori.
Stage Kiss – Performance information
- Theatre: Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, London NW3 3EU
- Booking dates: 8 May to 13 June 2026.
- Performance schedule: Monday to Saturday evenings and Thursday & Saturday matinees
- Age range: Recommended for ages 14+
- Tickets: Check availability and performance dates for Stage Kiss
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