Irish playwright to adapt Hunger Games for the stage

The Hunger Games has been a best-selling book series and a box-office film franchise - now an award-winning Irish playwright has said he is humbled and inspired to have been chosen to adapt the story for the stage.

Conor McPherson's adaption of the first instalment of Suzanne Collins' science fiction series will make its stage debut in London next year.

Set in a dystopian future, the series follows Katniss Everdeen battling for survival in a deadly competition.

The novel inspired a record-breaking film series, led by Jennifer Lawrence.

The Hunger Games movies, which depicted the tale of the oppressed residents of Panem, grossed nearly $3 billion (£2.5 billion) at the global box office.

A prequel film, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, is scheduled to premiere next month.

The London production will be the the first-ever live stage adaptation of Collins' work.

Her trilogy, set in a post-apocalypse America, is said to have been inspired by a combination of Greek myth and reality television, as well as Collins' own upbringing as the daughter of an air-force officer who served in Vietnam.

Speaking ahead of the adaption, Collins said she was excited to collaborate with McPherson and show director Matthew Dunster as they bring a "dynamic and innovative interpretation" to the West End.

Matthew Dunster, who is the former associate director at Shakespeare's Globe theatre, said the adaption "might be the most exciting work call" he has ever had.

"To add one of our greatest living playwrights, Conor McPherson, and experience him honouring the voice of Katniss Everdeen so rigorously has been a great privilege."

Dublin-born Conor McPherson is a five-time Tony nominee and has been named as "the finest playwright of his generation" by The New York Times.

He is known for productions such as Girl from the North Country, The Seafarer and The Weir, as well as film projects including Saltwater, The Eclipse and Artemis Fowl.

"To receive Suzanne Collins' blessing to adapt The Hunger Games for the stage is both humbling and inspiring," he said.

"She has created a classic story which continues to resonate now more than ever. In a world where the truth itself seems increasingly up for grabs, The Hunger Games beautifully expresses values of resilience, self-reliance and independent moral inquiry for younger people especially."