National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World

Caitriona McLaughlin
2026-05-28

At the edge of the earth, you could be anyone.
0
150 min

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.

Cast

Name Character Team
Nicola Coughlan Pegeen Mike Zac E. Chan
Éanna Hardwicke Christy Mahon Unowned
Siobhán McSweeney Widow Quin Unowned
Declan Conlon Old Mahon Unowned
Lorcan Cranitch Michael Flaherty Unowned
Megan Cusack Susan Brady Unowned
Naoise Dunbar Jimmy Farrell Unowned
Matthew Forrest Philly Cullen Unowned
Sallay Garnett Nelly Unowned
Fionnuala Gygax Honor Blake Unowned
Erin Hennessey Fiddle Unowned
Peter Mooney Banjo / Ensemble Unowned
Donncha O'Dea Ensemble Unowned
Marty Rea Shawn Keogh Unowned
Susan Akintomide Ensemble Unowned
Marty Breen Sara Tansey Unowned