The dystopian world of Panem, a setting many have come to know through the pages ofSuzanne Collins’sbest-sellingThe Hunger Gamesnovels and the cinematic universe led byJennifer Lawrence, is not only returning for itsprequel installmentThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but is now also set to be recreated on the London stage.
Olivier Award-winning playwrightConor McPherson, known for his impactful plays such as the musicalGirl From the North CountryandThe Weir, is adapting it for a live theatrical production. McPherson is collaborating with directorMatthew Dunster, celebrated for works like2:22 - A Ghost StoryandHangmen. The play is slated to debut in London’s West End in autumn 2024.
The play will be based on the first book and picks up when Katniss Everdeen, portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence in the movies, bravely steps in to replace her younger sister in the gruesome competition. This is going to be the first-ever stage adaptation ofThe Hunger Gamesin the series’ 15 year history.
Who’s Behind ‘The Hunger Games’ Stage Adaptation?
The play is still in early works so the cast has yet not been announced. However, the main stakeholders have shared their thoughts. “I’m very excited to be collaborating with the amazing team of Conor McPherson and Matthew Dunster as they bring their dynamic and innovative interpretation of ‘The Hunger Games’ to the London stage,” Collins wrote in a statement.
“She has created a classic story which continues to resonate now more than ever. In a world where the truth itself seems increasingly up for grabs, ‘The Hunger Games’ beautifully expresses values of resilience, self-reliance, and independent moral inquiry for younger people especially. This is turbo-charged storytelling of the highest order and I’m hugely excited to bring it to a new generation of theatergoers and to Suzanne Collins’ longstanding and devoted fans,” McPherson exclaimed while backing up Collins’s statement.
