Since its three year West End run back in the late 1980s there has been no major London revival of hit musical Chess. Up until February that is.
Despite its UK success, the show's adaptation for a Broadway audience failed to wow at the box office and the Cold War set love triangle story has been changed several times ever chasing an elusive winning formula.
Most recently a re-working of the show by its creators, composers Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and lyricist now Sir Tim Rice, was seen in London in a concert version in 2008.
2013 heralds the first fully-staged production of this updated piece, to be co-directed and staged by Chris Howell and Steven Harris with musical direction by Christopher Peake.
The show starts previewing on 13 February at London's Union Theatre, a venue that has never let its small size diminish its ambition, producing new works and revivals including Babes in Arms, Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be and most recently Steel Pier.
Chess, which features hit songs "One Night in Bangkok" and the Ivor Novello Award–winning duet "I Know Him So Well" will have a cast of 16 led by Sarah Galbraith.
Chess The Musical will run until 16 March.