NT Live / J. M. Synge: The Playboy of the Western World

Director: Caitríona McLaughlin

Cast: Éanna Hardwicke(Christy Mahon), Nicola Coughlan (Pegeen Mike),  Siobhán McSweeney (Widow Quin), Lorcan Cranitch (Michael Flaherty), Declan Conlon (Old Mahon), Marty Rea (Shawn Keogh)

Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) joins Éanna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment) and Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls) in John Millington Synge’s riveting play of youth and self-discovery.

Pegeen Flaherty’s life is turned upside down when a young man walks into her pub claiming that he’s killed his father. Instead of being shunned, the killer becomes a local hero and begins to win hearts, that is until a second man unexpectedly arrives on the scene…

Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre, Caitríona McLaughlin directs this darkly funny tale full to the brim with secrets.

The play ran from December 4, 2025 to February 28, 2026 in the Lyttelton Theatre at the Royal National Theatre, London, England, UK.