The production arrives in London in April, following its world premiere at Stratford –upon-Avon.

Full casting has been announced for the London transfer of Hannah Khalil’s play, which completed its run at the RSC’s Swan Theatre on the 25th January.

Directed by Erica Whyman, the London run of the play is set to star: David Birrell (Professor Leonard Woolley), Houda Echouafni (Layla Hassan), Emma Fielding (Gertrude Bell), Ali Gadema (Kidnapper, Prime Minister), Rendah Heywood (Ghalia Hussein), Zed Josef (Salim), Nadi Kemp-Sayfi (Nasiya), Debbie Korley (Sam York), Riad Richie (Mohammed Abdullah), and Rasoul Saghir (Abu Zaman).

In 1926, the nation of Iraq is in its infancy, and British archaeologist Gertrude Bell is founding a museum in Baghdad. In 2006, Ghalia Hussein is attempting to reopen the museum after looting during the war.

Decades apart, these two women share the same goals: to create a fresh sense of unity and nationhood, to make the world anew through the museum and its treasures. But in such unstable times, questions remain. Who is the museum for? Whose culture are we preserving? And why does it matter when people are dying?

The creative team for the production includes: designs by Tom Piper, lighting design by Charles Balfour, video design by Nina Dunn and dramaturg by David Greig and Pippa Hill.

A Museum in Baghdad will play at the Kiln Theatre from the 22nd April until the 23rd May.