Samantha Womack stars in Hope at Royal Court, Liverpool, 6 March

Actress and singer Samantha Womack is to join her actor husband Mark Womack for the world premiere of Hope, which opens at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre next month.

It will be the first time ever the couple have acted together on stage, although they have previously appeared together on television, in the hit ITV police drama, Liverpool 1. Samantha joins television and film actor René Zagger and the play’s writer and director, Scot Williams.

Hope is described as a darkly comical love story wrapped within an intriguing psychological thriller, with (Samantha) Womack’s mysterious title character, Hope, being the keeper of a secret at the heart of the story.

Samantha Womack said: “Hope is a beautifully written play with four powerful characters that are as funny as they are disturbing, who come together in a story that will grip the audience from start to finish.”

She added: “It’s wonderful to be acting opposite Mark on stage for the first time, not just because he is my husband, which adds an extra edge, but also because it’s his and Scot’s birth city and Liverpool always feels like home to me.”

A special benefit performance of Hope will take place on 11 March, 2013, with all proceeds being donated to five deserving causes in Liverpool.  The beneficiaries will be: 1) The Hillsborough families ongoing fight for justice and their ongoing legal costs; 2) Claire House; 3) The Meningitis Trust; 4) Alder Hey Children’s Hospital; 5) C.A.L.M (Campaign Against Living Miserably).

Hope runs at Liverpool’s Royal Court from 6 – 30 March, 2013.