“Now, by the grace of God, herself will be safe this night, with a man killed his father holding danger from the door…!”

Livin’ Dred present a riotous new production of J.M. Synge’s masterpiece The Playboy of the Western World, in a staging that crackles with wit, heroism, humor, and a touch of the absurd.

When the shy, poetic Christy Mahon stumbles into a rural tavern claiming to have killed his father, he sets off a frenzy of fascination that turns the countryside upside down – transforming him into an unlikely hero – and capturing the affections of the feisty and beguiling Pegeen Mike.

But as the young lovers dangerously flirt with an unexpected romance, the emergence of a mysterious figure suddenly casts Christy’s bold and ever-growing story into wicked doubt, until the lines between notorious truth and outrageous fantasy become hilariously blurred…

“Isn’t there the light of seven heavens in your heart alone…?”

The Playboy of the Western World is a comic delight and a lyrical exploration of the power of storytelling and the dangerous allure of fame, in small rural village where strict morality and simmering, raw desires collide. A comic tour-de-force and a tragic love story, The Playboy remains as outrageous, beloved and shocking today as it was when it first ignited riots over a century ago.

Award-winning Aaron Monaghan directs a stunning cast of some of Irelands best-loved actors, in a wild, insightful new production, teeming with Synge’s rich lyrical language, biting satire and sensational characters.

Experience the comedy, chaos, and controversy of one of Ireland’s most beloved plays with Livin’ Dred’s savage new production of J.M. Synge’s scandalous classic The Playboy of the Western World.

Additional Matinee show at 3pm on Saturday the 15th

Promotional photo © Estate of Jack B. Yeats, DACS London / IVARO Dublin, 2024