Hampstead Theatre has been in the vanguard of new writing for 40 years, and its work places it at the heart of contemporary theater. Under the present Artistic Director, Anthony Clark, the Hampstead's success has continued unabated with 107 plays presented during the last 11 years. 28 of these have gone to a further life in the West End or on tour throughout the country; actors and writers in these shows have earned between them some 33 awards and there have been numerous spin-offs from film, television, and foreign productions. The Hampstead has an international reputation both for its development work with emerging writers and for its high production values achieved on tight budgets.