Theatre to run Chariots of Fire with Vangelis tracks

The Hampstead Theatre will be transformed into a stadium to tell the true stories of athletes Eric Liddell, a Scot who refused to race on a Sunday, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew battling anti-Semitism, at the 1924 Olympics. The 1981 film, produced by David Puttnam, won four Oscars including best picture, musical score and screenplay for Colin Welland. The stage version was the idea of its director, Hugh Hudson, who thought it might be apt for the London Olympic year. "Issues of faith, of refusal to compromise, standing up for one's beliefs, achieving something for the sake of it, with passion, and not just for fame or financial gain, are even more vital today," he said.

Edward Hall, who runs the Hampstead Theatre and will direct, said: "It's a beautiful tale and I think it cuts straight to the heart of what the Olympics are all about. These two outsiders came to represent the heart of the British Establishment."

The hunt now begins for the roles taken by Ian Charleson (Liddell) and Ben Cross (Abrahams) on screen. Vangelis, whom Mr Hall visited in Greece at Christmas, is "very excited about putting his music in a new medium", he said.

Chariots of Fire will run from May 9 to June 16.