Multi-award-winning Irish playwright and director Conor McPherson is set to dominate the London theatre landscape in 2025 with four major productions — including a new staging of his haunting masterpiece The Weir, starring Brendan Gleeson in his long-awaited West End debut.
Also on the bill are the return of the globally celebrated musical Girl from the North Country at The Old Vic, McPherson’s acclaimed new play The Brightening Air, and a world premiere stage adaptation of The Hunger Games, opening at a brand-new venue in East London.
Brendan Gleeson to make West End debut in The Weir
The centrepiece of the 2025 McPherson season is a brand-new production of The Weir, running at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 12 September to 6 December, following an initial run at Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre. Written and directed by McPherson for the first time, the play stars Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin, Paddington 2) as Jack, marking his West End debut. This long-awaited revival promises to be a definitive staging of the celebrated modern classic.
Set in a rural Irish pub, The Weir tells the story of a group of locals who swap ghost stories to impress a mysterious visitor. But as night falls, a deeper truth emerges, revealing themes of memory, grief and connection.
Presented by Kate Horton Productions and Landmark Productions, the production is a homecoming for both McPherson and Gleeson—longtime admirers of each other’s work—returning to the roots of one of the most significant plays in contemporary Irish theatre.
“I can’t wait to be back [on stage], and then to play in the West End for the first time,” said Gleeson.
“It’s an absolute honour to bring this play to life again,” added McPherson. “And to do so with one of the great titans of Irish acting makes it incredibly special.”
Critically acclaimed The Brightening Air plays The Old Vic until 14 June
Currently running at The Old Vic until 14 June 2025, The Brightening Air is McPherson’s most recent original work. Written and directed by McPherson, the production stars Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, The IT Crowd), Brian Gleeson (Bad Sisters), and Rosie Sheehy (Machinal).
Set in 1980s Ireland, this Chekhovian family drama follows siblings Stephen and Billie as they navigate life in a crumbling farmhouse, with their solitude upended by unexpected visitors. The play explores memory, home, and the ways we attempt to forget in order to live.
★★★★★ “The finest play of the year… magnificent” – The i Paper
★★★★ “Hilarious and achingly moving” – Evening Standard
★★★★ “A rich family drama with echoes of Chekhov” – Financial Times
At the launch, McPherson said “I’m so excited that my new play The Brightening Air will have its world premiere at The Old Vic. I’ve had such fantastic times at this historic building with its incredible audience“
Book tickets to The Brightening Air at The Old Vic
Girl from the North Country returns to The Old Vic this summer
Following its world premiere at The Old Vic in 2017, McPherson’s internationally acclaimed musical Girl from the North Country returns to The Old Vic for a strictly limited season from 24 June – 23 August 2025.
Written and directed by McPherson, with music and lyrics by Bob Dylan, the story unfolds in a run-down guesthouse during the Great Depression in Duluth, Minnesota—Dylan’s hometown. A group of drifting souls cross paths in a deeply moving tale of hope, hardship, and human connection, brought to life by a haunting soundtrack of Dylan classics, including “Like a Rolling Stone,” “Make You Feel My Love,” and “Forever Young.”
Following acclaimed runs in the West End, on Broadway, and around the world, this celebrated production now returns to the theatre where it all began.
★★★★★ “Piercingly beautiful” – The Independent
★★★★★ “Dylan’s songs are Depression-era dynamite” – The Guardian
★★★★★ “Conor McPherson weaves magic with Dylan’s songs” – The Observer
Book tickets to Girl from the North Country
The Hunger Games on Stage to premiere in London this October
A bold new theatrical venture arrives this autumn with The Hunger Games – Live on Stage, a world premiere stage adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ blockbuster novel and film franchise. Written by Conor McPherson and directed by Matthew Dunster (2:22 – A Ghost Story, Hangmen), the production opens at the Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre on 20 October 2025.
Set in an immersive, in-the-round environment at a purpose-built venue, the show brings to life the story of Katniss Everdeen as she rises from survivor to symbol of resistance. Featuring state-of-the-art stunts and illusions, the adaptation promises a gripping, visceral theatrical experience unlike anything else on the London stage.
“This is a powerful story of courage, rebellion, and hope,” says McPherson. “We aim to make it unforgettable.”
More on The Hunger Games on Stage
A landmark year for a master storyteller
Conor McPherson’s influence on contemporary theatre is undeniable. With four diverse and ambitious productions across some of London’s most iconic venues, 2025 cements his legacy as one of the most vital voices in modern playwriting.
From the intimate magic of The Weir, to the soul-stirring melodies of Girl from the North Country, the layered family drama of The Brightening Air, and the epic dystopia of The Hunger Games, this is a theatrical season not to be missed.
More about: Conor McPherson
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