Nathan the wise

London revival for this surprise hit from Chichester on the topical theme of religious tolerance.

Opens at Hampstead Theatre in September 2005 - starring Michael Pennington, Jerusalem, 1192.

An uneasy stalemate exists between the Muslim forces of Saladin and the western Crusaders.

Caught in the middle, the Jews. All sides respect Nathan for his wisdom and his wealth.

But in a war-zone no one is secure. Banned by the Nazis, Lessing's 18th-century masterpiece is a passionate plea for religious tolerance, first seen in this version at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2003, unanimously well reviewed.