The Playboy of the Western World

The Playboy of the Western World description

The Playboy of the Western World stars Nicola Coughlan, Éanna Hardwicke and Siobhán McSweeney.

A truly brilliant three-act play written by the Irish playwright John Millington Synge, The Playboy of the Western World was originally staged at Dublin's Abbey Theatre way back in 1907, where it caused riots. Amazingly, it is still just as relevant, just as powerful, and just as hard to resist. A cornerstone of Ireland's Literary Revival movement, this play influenced numerous writers at the time and remains influential to this day.

Pegeen Flaherty’s life is upended when a young man walks into her pub on a perfectly ordinary day and claims he has killed his own dad. You might think he'd be shunned by the community, but the murderer Christy Mahon soon becomes a local hero, a man who melts hearts as he embeds himself in village life. But then another man turns up and everything changes.

This iconic Irish masterpiece has been treated to a brave revival at the National Theatre, directed by the Artistic Director of Dublin's Abbey Theatre, Caitríona McLaughlin. Billed as a major new production, it stars three acclaimed Irish actors: Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton, Derry Girls), Éanna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment) and Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls). It also stars Megan Cusack as Susan Brady, Declan Conlon as Old Mahon, Marty Rea as Shawn Keogh, and Lorcan Cranitch as Michael James Flaherty. Set and Costume Design comes from Katie Davenport, with Lighting Design by James Farncombe, Sound Design from Adrienne Quartly, music from Composer Anna Mullarkey and Casting from Alastair Coomer CDG and Naomi Downham.

Expect a deeply poetic, shocking, beautiful and darkly funny play exploring themes of identity, the way we tell stories, the remarkable power of myths, the influence of fantasy, the meaning of heroism, and the lies we tell to make people love us. Almost 120 years later, this play still has a sting in the tail – and it still resonates. A collaboration between The National Theatre and Abbey Theatre, it brings early 20th century Ireland to startling life.

Buy tickets for The Playboy of the Western World to experience John Millington Synge’s riveting, raw story of youth and self-discovery for yourself.

Playing at Lyttelton - National Theatre

South Bank, London, SE1 9PX GB (venue info)

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