Simon Russell Beale and David Hare in new Hampstead season

It's been confirmed Simon Russell Beale will play Georgian celebrity Samuel Foote in the premiere of Mr Foote's Other Leg at Hampstead Theatre later this year.

Adapted by Ian Kelly from his book of the same name, the production is directed by Richard Eyre and runs from 21 September to 17 October 2015 (previews from 14 September).

Samuel Foote was a satirist and actor who had the ear of the king and proved an early exponent of celebrity culture.

It's followed by The Moderate Soprano (23 October-28 November), a new play by David Hare starring Roger Allam, recounting the story of John Christie's dream to build an Opera House on his Sussex estate, Glyndebourne.

Directed by Jeremy Herrin, it's billed as "the story of an intense love affair between some unlikely bedfellows, and of the unrelenting search for artistic excellence in the face of searing scrutiny, sacrifice and war."

Hare returns to Hampstead following his Oscar Wilde bio-play The Judas Kiss, which was revived with Rupert Everett in 2012. Allam recently starred in the venue's production of Seminar.

Also announced today is the premiere this Summer in the Downstairs space of 36 Phone Calls by Jeremy Brock, whose The Blackest Black ran there last year.