*Back to the Future* has been a family favourite since the film starring Michael J Fox as Marty McFly came out in 1985 – and now there’s a musical version! With a rocking score plus all the beloved songs from the film, it’s a rollicking adventure with spectacular visual effects and lovable performances. 

Read our guide to all the activities you can make time for that will make your day all the more thrilling. See you at the clock tower!

Book [*Back to the Future: The Musical*...

Make a day out of 'Back to the Future: The Musical' in London

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We can't promise time travel, but there's never a dull moment with all these exciting attractions in London! 

Mark Rosenblatt’s new play *Giant*, starring Tony winner John Lithgow, will transfer to the West End's Harold Pinter Theatre next year, following a run at the Royal Court this September. The play will run from 26 April 2025 – 2 August 2025.

Directed by Nicholas Hytner (*[Guys & Dolls](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/25504-guys-and-dolls-tickets), Straight Line Crazy, La Belle Sauvage*) and designed by Bob Crowley, the play follows the acclaimed children's author Roald Dahl over the course...

John Lithgow-led 'Giant' to transfer to the West End in 2025

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The play follows the acclaimed children's author Roald Dahl over the course of a single afternoon, in the wake of scandal caused by an explicitly antisemitic article. 

Do you hear the people sing? You will do soon if you’ve booked a trip to one of the West End’s longest-running and most popular musicals, *[Les Misérables](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/300-les-miserables-tickets)*. Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil’s show, adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel, is a revolutionary epic packed with unforgettable songs like “I Dreamed A Dream” and “Bring Him Home”.

Make your *Les Misérables* outing even more incredible by adding other activities to your...

Make a day out of 'Les Misérables' in London

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Make your trip to the West End's revolutionary musical even more memorable by adding visits to an historic London pub, a French restaurant, and a museum full of historic treasures.

You can-can-can have an unforgettable night of bohemian entertainment in the West End now that Baz Luhrmann’s legendary movie *[Moulin Rouge!](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/23350-moulin-rouge-the-musical-tickets)* has become an equally spectacular stage musical. Like the film, it juxtaposes a romance set in 19th-century Paris between cabaret star Satine and aspiring composer Christian with modern pop music – in fact, the show boasts more than 70 songs in total!

Make your trip even better...

Make a day out of 'Moulin Rouge!' in London

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Make your trip to this spectacular West End musical even more memorable by adding in a trip to a world-famous art gallery, an airborne adventure, and a delicious French meal.

For the first few performances of a West End show, the show is typically in previews. The preview period allows the show to be performed in front of an audience to help spread the word of a new production, as well as allow the actors and creatives to continue working on reaching the show’s finishing point. 

Once the preview period finishes, West End shows typically invite reviewers for the official opening night. Shortly after, theatre critics publish their reviews, allowing the general public...

Book tickets to the best-reviewed West End shows

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Discover five-star West End shows to see in London right now, including *Guys & Dolls* and *Six*. Get tickets to hit musicals and plays on London Theatre. 

In December 1997, a group of United Nations delegates at the Kyoto Conference Centre had just hours left to agree a climate deal that might save the world. That’s the riveting subject for the explosive political thriller *[Kyoto](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/42734-kyoto)*, which is hitting the West End in spring 2025 following its acclaimed premiere earlier this year.

The show is written by Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson, the powerhouse duo behind the award-winning play *The Jungle*,...

Learn all about the real history behind 'Kyoto'

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The gripping political thriller set during the vital 1997 UN climate conference is coming to @sohoplace in the West End. Ahead of your trip, find out what really happened!

Neither Alexander Hamilton nor Aaron Burr, the protagonists of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical phenomenon, ever came to London. Thomas Jefferson, the Act II antagonist, visited for six weeks in spring 1786. He described the architecture as “in the most wretched stile I ever saw” and "both town and country fell short of my expectations." Ouch. However, Jefferson certainly made the most of the entertainments and shopping the city had to offer. 

On the other hand, Benjamin Franklin, who first visited...

Make a day out of 'Hamilton' in London

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Explore some fascinating Anglo-American ties, including the Benjamin Franklin House, Kew Palace, and two historical churches.

New casting has been announced for the long-running West End production of [*The Mousetrap*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/333-mousetrap-tickets). The show is currently enjoying 70th anniversary celebrations as part of a UK tour.

The new cast includes Lara Lemon (*Witness for the Prosecution*) as Mollie Ralston, Harry Bradley (*The Play That Goes Wrong*) as Giles Ralston, Richard Leeming (*The Haunting*) as Christopher Wren, Rekha John-Cheriyan (*The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel*) as Mrs...

Agatha Christie's 'The Mousetrap' announces new West End cast 

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*The Mousetrap* is currently enjoying 70th anniversary celebrations as part of a UK tour. It's is the West End's longest-running production.

LondonTheatre.co.uk has launched its Black Friday and Cyber Monday theatre ticket sales, with up to 40% off over 50 participating shows, including long-running play [*The Mousetrap*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/333-mousetrap-tickets) and West End favourite [*Les Misérables*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/300-les-miserables-tickets).

Highlights in the sale include musicals *[The Book of Mormon](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/287-book-of-mormon-tickets), [MJ the...

Shop Black Friday and Cyber Monday theatre tickets in 2024

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Shop theatre ticket deals on LondonTheatre.co.uk, with up to 40% off over 50 participating shows during the promotional period.

If you’re looking for Black Friday Christmas gifts, then you've come to the right place. We’ve got affordable theatre tickets to over 50 shows in London. 

Theatre tickets make great Christmas presents for friends, family, and that special someone in your life. Check out our top Black Friday tickets in the West End and do all your Christmas shopping today.

Take a look at some of the Black Friday shows in 2024! 

![The Book of Mormon - 1200 - LT -...

Here's why Black Friday theatre tickets make the best Christmas gifts

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Give the gift of theatre this Christmastime when you save up to 40% on tickets to West End and Off-West End shows — here are some of the best gift options.

Ahead of [*2:22 - A Ghost Story*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/23977-222-a-ghost-story) playing a third West End season this spring, find out the quartet of actors who'll appear in the show. *2:22 - A Ghost Story* is at the [Criterion Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/criterion-theatre) from 7 May to 4 September.

Currently, *2:22 - A Ghost Story* is nominated for three Oliviers including Best New Play. [The Olivier Awards will take place on 10 April](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/2022-olivier-awards-nominations-announced). 

Tom Felton will play Sam. The award-winning actor is best known for playing Draco Malfoy in the *Harry Potter* films. Since the films, he’s appeared in projects including *The Flash*, *The Forgotten Battle* and *Save the Cinema*. Felton will make his West End debut in *2:22 - A Ghost Story*. 

 “I’m incredibly excited about getting to play in 2:22”, said Felton. “I first started acting age 6 in a local theatre group and I haven’t trodden the boards since. I love the play, I’ve taken all my family to see it & everyone leaves with a smile. I’m thrilled to be part of this summers cast and will have a lot of fun with it.”

Mandip Gill will play Jenny. Previously, Gill's TV credits include the assistant in *Doctor Who* opposite Jodie Whittaker. BEatriz Romilly will play Lauren and Sam Swainsbury will play Ben.

The *2:22 - A Ghost Story* play follows Jenny, a woman who believes her new house is haunted. In order to discover the truth, Jenny invites friends over for dinner and they stay up to 2:22am to find out what lies in the afterlife. 

In a [review of *2:22 - A Ghost Story*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/reviews/review-222-a-ghost-story-starring-lily-allen-at-the-noel-coward-theatre), our critic said: “*2:22 A Ghost Story* includes a meditation on the debilitating legacy of loss that stays with you long after the collective nervous laughter from the crowd has ceased.” 

*2:22 - A Ghost Story* is by Danny Robins and directed by Matthew Dunster. The play features set design by Anna Fleischle, costume design by Cindy Lin, lighting design by Lucy Carter, sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph Sound.

*2:22 - A Ghost Story* is at the Criterion Theatre.

*Photo credit: Tom Felton (Photo by Muse)*

Tom Felton to star in ‘2:22 - A Ghost Story’

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Age guidance: 14+ Please note the performance contains strobe lighting, flashing lights, loud sound effects, smoke effects and periods of darkness in the auditorium.

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Genre: Play

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A spine-tingling tale returns to the West End — see it if you dare! In this supernatural thriller, something otherworldly happens every night at 2:22am. Do you believe the dead can return? Test your courage.

*2:22 - A Ghost Story* is at the Lyric Theatre from January 2023. [Find out more about *2:22 - A Ghost Story* tickets from January 2023.](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/26645-2-22-a-ghost-story-lyric-theatre)

British theatre has an impressive heritage when it comes to scary stories, so the *2:22 A Ghost Story* play follows a fine tradition. The most famous example is Susan Hill’s *The Woman in Black*, which Stephen Mallatratt adapted for stage in 1987, and which has been performed in London since 1989 — making it the second-longest-running play in West End history. We’ve also had theatrical chillers like *The Exorcist, Ghost Stories, Variant 31, Witness for the Prosecution*, and *Frankenstein*.

Now hitting the West End is *2:22 A Ghost Story*, written by Danny Robins. Robins has form in this area: he created the BBC series *Young Dracula* and two spook-tastic podcasts, *Haunted* and *The Battersea Poltergeist*. *Haunted* examines real-life experiences, from a racetrack where drivers are seemingly reanimated to parents who were convinced that a ghost was trying to kill their baby daughter, while *The Battersea Poltergeist* blends drama and documentary to investigate one of Britain’s strangest and most disturbing hauntings.

## What happens in *2:22 A Ghost Story*?

The *2:22 A Ghost Story* play features an intriguing premise. When Jenny and Sam move into a new house, Jenny is convinced their new abode is haunted. They argue about whether or not ghosts exist with their first dinner guests — and all four decide to stay up until 2:22am to confront the unknown. 

The premiere of *2:22 A Ghost Story* took palce at London’s Noel Coward Theatre in 2021. The original cast featured Lily Allen, Hadley Fraser, Julia Chan and Jake Wood. Then *2:22 A Ghost Story* returned to the West End for Christmas 2021, starring Encanto actress Stephanie Beatriz. *2:22 A Ghost Story* is now at the Criterion Theatre for 2022, its third venue in a year.

## How long is *2:22 A Ghost Story?*

The *2:22 A Ghost Story* play runs for 2 hours, including a 15-minute interval. Matinee performances begin at 2:00pm or 2:30pm, and evening performances begin at 6:00pm or 7:30pm.

2:22 A Ghost Story - LON - London Theatre

Buy 2:22 A Ghost Story Tickets showing at the Criterion Theatre, London. Choose your own seats with the best availability from London Theatre.

2:22 A Ghost Story Tickets | Criterion Theatre | London Theatre

Two couples wait to see if a ghost will appear - but maybe you'll spot it first! This spooky thriller has returned to the West End after two record-breaking runs. 
Believers and skeptics battle over the dinner table, but only you can decide if this is a haunting, or if another mystery is afoot.  
Get *2:22 - A Ghost Story* tickets at the Criterion Theatre today. 

The *2:22 - A Ghost Story* West End production continues a strong tradition of spooky fare in this famous theatre district, including the historic long-runner *The Woman in Black*, which uses traditional stagecraft to create a terrifying psychological horror experience. 

Robins’s play likewise digs into the core questions about our belief, or scepticism of, visitors from the beyond; the plot involves the couple and their first dinner party guests debating a mysterious happening at 2:22am, and deciding to stay up and face it together.

## What to Watch For:

- Danny Robins is no stranger to scary happenings. He created the BBC’s *Young Dracula* series and also two podcasts that examine the supernatural. *The Battersea Poltergeist* examines a haunting that became national news, with one house beset by loud noises and objects flying around, while *Haunted* digs into people’s real experiences with ghosts — like a spirit trying to murder a couple’s baby daughter.
- Director Matthew Dunster also has form when it comes to chilling plays. He helmed Martin McDonagh’s *A Very Very Dark Matter*, about the disturbing world of Hans Christian Andersen, and also McDonagh’s *Hangmen*, featuring the second-best hangman in England — and a mysterious stranger who wreaks havoc.
- The show features illusions by Chris Fisher. He’s a member of the Magic Circle and made a key contribution to productions like *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* and *Back to the Future: The Musical*.
- Also featured among this all-star creative team is designer Anna Fleischle, who collaborated with Matthew Dunster on *A Very Very Dark Matter* and *Hangmen* — winning Olivier, Critics’ Circle and Evening Standard Theatre Awards for the latter. She was Olivier nominated again for the play *Home, I’m Darling* and musical *Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.*

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<a href="/actor-profile/lily-allen">Lily Allen</a> shrieks before she even says a word in <a href="/show/222-a-ghost-story">2:22: A Ghost Story</a>, which tips you off immediately as to the way Danny Robins's debut West End play is due to proceed. But the name-grabbing debut on view is, of course, singer-songwriter Allen, who was due some years back to be penning a major musical of Bridget Jones's Diary from which she parted company along the way.Instead, here Allen is, looking sleek and glam and very much forming part of the four-person ensemble that has been assembled by the director Matthew Dunster (of Hangmen renown, amongst other titles) in a putative scare-fest that is at heart the story of two couples in crisis. That shifting dynamic finds itself in thrall to numerous tropes of the genre - tricks of sound and light and sudden screams intended to elicit the same from the audience and which you'll either find nerve-shredding or cheesy, depending on your susceptibility to such things. To my mind, none of the jump-scare moments rival the frissons I recall from the comparatively undemanding likes of <a href="https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/the-woman-in-black">The Woman in Black</a>, but 2:22 A Ghost Story to its credit has far more on its mind, including a meditation on the debilitating legacy of loss that stays with you long after the collective nervous laughter from the crowd has ceased.Allen knows her way around a stage and is part of an acting family, so it's not much of a surprise that this isn't the deer-in-the-headlights moment some might have feared. (Madonna's Broadway and London stage runs, both of which I saw, have been cited by way of comparison but aren't really relevant.) In fact, Dunster keeps the actor whooshing around designer Anna Fleischle's attractive set, as Allen's character, Jenny, tries to make sense of footsteps she has been hearing in baby daughter Phoebe's room at 2:22 across successive mornings. (Quite why they don't simply bring Phoebe downstairs until the very final scene, rather than leaving her so long unattended, is left unanswered.)To try and make sense of this recurring conundrum, Jenny has enlisted over risotto and quite a lot of wine an assist from her sceptical, hyper-rationalist husband Sam (Hadley Fraser, the musicals veteran in expert form) along with Sam's longtime American psychoanalyst chum Lauren (Julia Chan) and her builder-boyfriend, Ben, who showed up to do Lauren's bathroom and evidently never left. That role seems intended as comic relief and is rather belligerently played as such by Jake Wood until such time as the character darkens and all bets are off. At one bizarre moment, Ben ends up in spiritualist mode rather like an EastEnders equivalent of <a href="https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/blithe-spirit">Blithe Spirit</a>'s Madame Arcati.Robins commendably has plenty on his mind, in marked contrast with usual shows of this kind: you don't expect societal commentary, for instance, from Deathtrap. But I'm not sure it's in the best of taste to compare ghosts to refugees, given the very real suffering experienced by the latter, and some of the angst is very clunkily expressed: "I want to be more than just a sponge," Jenny protests well into the second act, around the same time that we get the cod-philosophical "life is pointless and life is final."&nbsp;Elsewhere, Julia responds to the rising tensions by proffering herself as "Switzerland" in human form - evidence of a script that gathers humour into its fearful embrace.The evening is on stronger ground layering the strangeness on view in a stylish home whose skylight is singled out as a thing of beauty and whose sliding door seems to give way to a landscape of foxes whose piercing night cries (indices of copulation, we are told) are used several times to fearmongering effect. Add to all this a dodgy boiler, windows that seem mysteriously to open, and the unexplained presence of white spirit in the sink, and it's no wonder that Jenny is soon striding about with a hammer when, that is, one or another character isn't heard demanding the impossible from a mobile phone. (Alexa is given enough of a workout to merit inclusion on the payroll.)"This isn't The Exorcist," Sam maintains at one point, noting the absence of ectoplasm from an increasingly shouty narrative that wants to disturb on a human level well away from the familiar horror-landscape theatrics. (The film Ghost gets its own name check.) There's plenty said about the trauma of childbearing and class and marital tensions, not to mention the primacy in our psyche that is granted to fear over love, to command attention well before the sounds of thunder arrive seemingly on cue. If 2 22: A Ghost Story is remembered as the play that posited Lily Allen as a viable theatrical presence, its primary debt is owed less to the likes of, say, Andy Nyman's Ghost Stories than to the eternal challenge, at times truly fearful, that most of us will recognise inherent in simply being alive.<a href="/show/222-a-ghost-story">2: 22 A Ghost Story is at the Noel Coward Theatre to 16 October.</a>Photo credit: Julia Chan, Lily Allen, Hadley Fraser and Jake Wood in 2:22 A Ghost Story (Photo by Helen Murray)

Lily Allen makes an admirable stage debut in the scary and shouty '2:22: A Ghost Story'

Photo credit: Julia Chan, Lily Allen, Hadley Fraser and Jake Wood in 2:22 A Ghost Story (Photo by Helen Murray)

Read our review of 2:22 A Ghost Story starring Lily Allen at the Noel Coward Theatre at London Theatre.

2:22 A Ghost Story starring Lily Allen Review | London Theatre

Born in London in 1983, Matt Willis is an English singer and actor. 

Willis found fame as one-third of British boyband Busted. Formed in 2000, the award-winning band released tracks including “Year 3000” and “What I Go To School For."  After splitting in 2005, Willis went solo and released his 2006 album, aptly named Don’t Let It Go To Waste. The band Busted eventually came together after a decade, releasing their latest album in 2018.

In 2010, Willis made his West End debut in *Flashdance* at the [Shaftesbury Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/shaftesbury-theatre). He played Nick Hurley in the limited run, in a production which [London Theatre praised](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/reviews/flashdance-the-musical) as having "an underlying grittiness which is both realistic and convincing." The following year, he took over the role of Fiyero in *[Wicked](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/wicked)*, continuing in the production for over a year.

More recently, Willis has starred in *[Little Shop of Horrors](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/little-shop-of-horrors)* at [Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/regents-park-open-air-theatre). [London Theatre raved](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/reviews/review-little-shop-of-horrors-at-regents-park-open-air-theatre) that Willis “shows a fearless enthusiasm to play the fool and shows off a versatility of caricatures and accents, as demented dentist Orin in the first half and a host of other over-the-top figures in the second half.”  He returned to the West End to play Bob Cratchit in *[A Christmas Carol](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/a-christmas-carol-the-musical-staged-concert)* at the [Dominion Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/dominion-theatre). In 2021, he played Dr. Pomatter in the UK tour of *[Waitress](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/waitress)*.

Matt Willis - LON

Born in London in 1983, Matt Willis is an English singer and actor. Willis found fame as one-third of British boyband Busted. Formed in 2000, the award-winning band released tracks including “Year 3000” and “What I Go To School For."

Matt Willis - Stars on Stage | London Theatre

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Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) - LON [38626]

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

A new British musical from writers Jim Barne and Kit Buchan.

The Criterion Theatre is a gem of Victorian architecture located in the bustling heart of London, nestled within the world-famous Piccadilly Circus. Hidden away underground, this grand and storied venue brims with rich history and elegance. Built in 1874 by architect Thomas Verity, and designed in a striking Italian Renaissance style, the theatre seats 588 people across three levels. Notably, it is constructed predominantly from concrete, a characteristic unusual for its time. The theatre's magnificent gilded interior and treasured Criterion Bar sublimely enhance the overall patron experience.

Over the years, the Criterion Theatre has been the host to a variety of productions spanning several genres, including comedies, dramas, thrillers, musical concerts, and matinees. Its 'Criterion New Writing Programme' reflects its commitment towards nurturing potential playwrights and encouraging new work.

### How to Get There

The Criterion Theatre is conveniently served by several modes of public transportation. The nearest Tube station is Piccadilly Circus, served by the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines, a mere two-minute walk away. Numerous bus routes run along Piccadilly, Regent Street, and Shaftesbury Avenue, making the venue easily accessible. However, due to its central location, parking is limited and it's advisable to use public transportation if possible. The venue is within London’s Congestion Charge Zone, and for those choosing to drive, nearby parking is available at Q Park Chinatown in Newport Place.

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Criterion Theatre

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When the Criterion Theatre first opened in 1873, the space was designed as a concert hall. The Criterion Theatre is the only West End theatre to be situated almost entirely underground — even the Upper Circle is not at street level. 

The Criterion Theatre housed comic opera in its early years, including works by W. S. Gilbert and George Grossmith. A decade after opening, the theatre had to be renovated to meet the Metropolitan Board of Works standards for ventilation. This work also saw the installation of electricity to the theatre. The building surrounding the theatre was extensively rebuilt between 1989 and 1992, but the Victorian auditorium was well-preserved and still stands today. 

Notable shows at the Criterion Theatre include *The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)* by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, the long-running play *The 39 Steps* and Mischief Theatre's *The Comedy About A Bank Robbery*.

## Criterion Theatre Seating Information

The auditorium has three levels – Stalls, Dress Circle and Upper Circle.

The front rows of the Stalls offers good views of the stage, though the seating is not raked steeply. 

The Dress Circle has specifically designated ‘restricted view’ seats due to the number of pillars supporting the Upper Circle in Row C.

The Upper Circle offers unrestricted theatre views.

Criterion Theatre - London Theatre

The Criterion Theatre, opened in 1873, situated underground, had comic operas in early years. Later renovated with installed electricity, preserved Victorian auditorium remains. Notable shows include Shakespeare's works.

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The Criterion Theatre is a historic Victorian theatre in London's Piccadilly Circus, easily accessible by tube and bus services.

Tom Felton to star in ‘2:22 - A Ghost Story’

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