Nicola Coughlan, Siobhán McSweeney & Éanna Hardwicke will lead a new production of John Millington Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World, opening at the National Theatre’s Lyttelton stage later this year.
Directed by Caitríona McLaughlin, Artistic Director of Ireland’s Abbey Theatre, the revival marks the first of two productions at the National this season to be helmed by McLaughlin. Often described as the Irish counterpart to Hamlet in terms of national significance, Synge’s 1907 tragicomedy explores identity, myth-making, and rebellion in rural County Mayo.
The show is one of 16 new productions unveiled today in Indhu Rubasingham’s first season as Artistic Director of the National Theatre in London.
Joining Derry Girls stars Coughlan and McSweeney in the cast are Megan Cusack, Declan Conlon, Marty Rea, and Lorcan Cranitch. Together they bring to life Synge’s sharp and provocative exploration of identity, myth, and rebellion in the west of Ireland — a play long considered a cornerstone of Irish drama.
The creative team features set and costume design by Katie Davenport, lighting design by James Farncombe, sound design by Adrienne Quartly, and an original score by composer Anna Mullarkey. Casting is by Alastair Coomer CDG and Naomi Downham.
First performed at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre in 1907, The Playboy of the Western World caused outrage for its unflinching portrayal of Irish rural life but has since been hailed as one of the most significant works in the Irish theatrical canon. Its revival at the National Theatre reaffirms the enduring relationship between the Abbey Theatre and British stages, celebrating a shared literary heritage.
The Playboy of the Western World runs from 4 December 2025 until 28 February 2026 at the Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre in London.
More about The Playboy of the Western World
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