The play is fighting back against the blockbuster musicals that have dominated the West End this year.

A string of high-profile productions has been planned for next year to take on the likes of The Sound Of Music, Spamalot and Dirty Dancing.

Leading the charge is Kenneth Branagh's revival of Peter Shaffer's 1973 play Equus, featuring Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe.

The 17-year-old will play the role of a disturbed delinquent who attacks horses and will have to strip on stage at the Gielgud Theatre. With advance takings of £750,000, the play is set to be a smash hit when it opens in February. Richard Griffiths costars.

Dr Who actress Billie Piper will star in Treats, Christopher Hampton's 1975 love triangle, produced by Bill Kenwright. The production will tour before transferring to the West End, probably in March.

Dame Maggie Smith will return to the West End for the first time for five years in a production of Edward Albee's rarely staged The Lady From Dubuque.

Directed by Evening Standard theatre award-winner Anthony Page, it will be at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 20 March.

Roger Lloyd Pack and The Office's Martin Freeman will star in Richard Harris's government censorship satire The Last Laugh and Sir Anthony Sher will play the title role in Kean, Jean-Paul Sartre's play about 19th century romantic actor Edmund Kean.

The Bargain is a black comedy depicting the 1988 meeting between Robert Maxwell and Mother Teresa, starring Susan Hampshire and Michael Pennington.

Hopes are high that David Hare's Iraq war play The Vertical Hour, starring Bill Nighy and Julianne Moore and directed by Sam Mendes, will transfer from Broadway.

WHAT'S COMING

EQUUS
Revival of Peter Shaffer's 1973 play starring Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths, Gielgud Theatre from 27 February.

TREATS
Revival of Christopher Hampton's 1975 love triangle with Jane Asher. Now with Billie Piper. Venue to be confirmed.

THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE
Rare production of Edward Albee's play with Dame Maggie Smith, Theatre Royal Haymarket from 20 March.

THE LAST LAUGH
Satire by Richard Harris, starring Martin Freeman (The Office) and Roger Lloyd Pack (Only Fools And Horses). Venue tbc.

KEAN
Antony Sher as 19th century actor Edmund Kean in Jean-Paul Sartre's play. Venue tbc.