Payne’s Constellations follows Posh & Jumpy at Duke of York’s

Announcing the transfer, Royal Court artistic director Dominic Cooke described the play as “something special”, adding: “It’s exactly the kind of play that the Royal Court was made for – it’s formally exciting with an emotional boldness that dazzled audiences and resulted in an unprecedented demand for tickets.”

Running at just over an hour, Constellations is a romantic comedy centring on the relationship between a bee-keeper and cosmology academic, played by Rafe Spall and Sally Hawkins (who will reprise their performances in the West End).

Directed by Michael Longhurst, it’s billed as an “extraordinary play about friendship and love seen through shards of infinite possibility stars”.

It will be produced in the West End by Royal Court Theatre Productions and Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG).

ATG’s Howard Panter said today: “With Posh off to a smashing start in previews with a queue to buy tickets trailing down St Martins Lane, we are delighted the Royal Court season continues with another fantastic example of the best in British new writing. I managed to snag a seat for Constellations when it was on Upstairs at the Court and it was clear this play is something very exciting – more people need the chance to see it.”