John Milington Synge’s controversial play about a murderer worming his way into the hearts of an Irish village – so controversial it caused riots in Dublin when it was first staged – gets a thrilling revival at the National Theatre. Caitríona McLaughlin directs an all-star cast in this darkly comic story about how lies can turn a killer into a hero – find out the truth about The Playboy of the Western World.

Why should you see The Playboy of the Western World?
It’s a revival of one of Ireland’s most beloved plays, a centrepiece of the Irish Literary Revival – now retold in a bold, modern new way. It boasts a cast full of phenomenal Irish actors like Nicola Coughlan, Éanna Hardwicke, and Siobhán McSweeney, and is directed by one of Ireland’s leading theatre-makers. With a brilliantly chilling premise and a story that caused controversy at the time of its writing, the play is sure to be full of twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

What is The Playboy of the Western World about?
A stranger walks into Pegeen Flaherty’s remote pub in rural County Mayo, changing her life forever. Christy Mahon claims he killed his tyrannical father, which instantly makes him a local celebrity in the sleepy village, until a second stranger arrives to challenge his story.

The Playboy of the Western World was written by Irish playwright John Millington Synge, first performed in 1907 at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin – where it sparked controversy and even riots for how it approached the subject of patricide and its unflinching portrayal of Irish rural life. This revival, directed by Abbey Theatre Artistic Director Caitríona McLaughlin, stars Nicola Coughlan (Derry Girls, Bridgerton), Éanna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment) and Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls) and is part of a collaboration between the Abbey Theatre, where the play was first staged, and the National Theatre, where it’s being staged today.

With its rich history and quintessentially Irish themes, The Playboy of the Western World is a true gem of Irish literature and theatre. You won’t want to miss this searing exploration of a rural community plagued by secrets and the power of myth and manipulation, in a story that’s both comic and poetic, full of complex characters and shocking twists.