The production starred Rory Kinnear in the title role and Oliver Chris as Friedrich Engels and reunited the creative team of Bean's previous hit play One Man Two Guvnors (which premiered at the National Theatre), directed by Hytner, designed by Mark Thompson, music by Grant Olding, lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Paul Arditti.

On 17 August, the full company was announced alongside Kinnear and Chris.

[1] The description published on the play's information page on the Bridge Theatre's website is as follows: 1850, and Europe's most feared terrorist is hiding in Dean Street, Soho.

Broke, restless and horny, the thirty-two-year-old revolutionary is a frothing combination of intellectual brilliance, invective, satiric wit, and child-like emotional illiteracy.Creditors, spies, rival revolutionary factions and prospective seducers of his beautiful wife all circle like vultures.

His writing blocked, his marriage dying, his friend Engels in despair at his wasted genius, his only hope is a job on the railway.