Ladies, an announcement: I am up for it, all the time

Dominic Cooper returns to the West End this year as the John Wilmot, the 2nd Earl of Rochester, the rakish Restoration era aristo with an appetite for women and wine that would make Bacchus weep. Ostentatiously based on his real exploits, Stephen Jeffreys' The Libertine is as much an examination of the excesses of the age as the man himself.

A favorite of Charles II, Rochester pushed the boundaries of society with his fondness for drink, sexual proclivity and satire. Whilst Charles lead his court in their hedonism, the good life was to eventually claim the Earl, but not before a damn good fight.

Cooper, who made his London stage debut as the swaggering Daikin in the now iconic original History Boys line-up (National Theatre) and has more recently been conquering Hollywood, is likely to prove a perfect Libertine for this century, saying of the part: "I like Wilmot's outlook on life. He decided that the country had been through enough repression, so he was going to have a good time." With direction from Tony and Olivier winner Terry Johnson, we're sure this brand new production is going to prove a rollicking good time for Cooper and audiences alike!

London 1670s

After the dreary years of Cromwell's republic, Charles II is back on the throne and all of society is concentrating on one thing; having fun. For some it's booze, others women (or men) and yet for more it's just the thrill of living the high life. For John Wilmot it's all that and more. Dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure, he has made a name as London's Merriest man. But then he finds himself in the path of Elizabeth Barry, a failing actress. In love and all aflutter, he begins to reconsider his lifestyle. Will Barry's influence calm this proud sexual anarchist? Or will the call of self-destruction prove too loud?