A stage adaptation of The Hunger Games will open on London’s West End next year.

Theatre director Matthew Dunster has signed up to helm the production, which is being adapted by Conor McPherson from the first book in Suzanne Collins’ dystopian series.

The book stars Katniss Everdeen and revolves around an annual televised battle royale in which young “tributes” are picked to fight to the death.

“I’m very excited to be collaborating with the amazing team of Conor McPherson and Matthew Dunster as they bring their dynamic and innovative interpretation of The Hunger Games to the London stage,” Collins said in a statement.

The Tony-nominated director revealed that he signed up for the project as soon as the producers revealed the title.

“I loved the Lionsgate film and the brutal and emotional power of this dystopian classic,” he explained. “My children had their heads in the books at the time (it’s definitely the ONLY work call of mine they’ve been excited about) so I stole them and I came to appreciate the beauty of Suzanne Collins’ storytelling.

“This is theatre. It’s The Hunger Games in the theatre. And with the world class team we have put together we aim to do something that is fully immersed in the novel and the film but is uniquely, thrillingly theatrical.”

The first Hunger Games novel was released in 2008, and the film adaptation, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson, came out in 2012.

The theatre adaptation will debut in the autumn next year.

– Cover Media