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Conor McPherson returns to The Old Vic with world premiere of The Brightening Air, following the multi award-winning Girl from the North Country
The Old Vic announces The Brightening Air, a new play written and directed by Olivier Award winner Conor McPherson (The Weir**,** The Seafarer), in his return to the theatre following the multi award-winning Girl from the North Country in 2017. An entrancing tale of fate, family and unseen forces in 1980s Ireland, The Brightening Air will have its world premiere at The Old Vic in April 2025.
How much of living is really just forgetting?
The family home is more than merely a building. It can be a destination of pilgrimage, an inherited investment, a repository of memory or even magic. And, for brother and sister Stephen and Billie, home is all they have. Mucking along in their decaying farmhouse, they’re doing just fine.
That is, until the arrival of an ex-clergyman uncle with an unscrupulous plan, a sister-in-law seeking a miracle, and a prodigal brother hell-bent on trouble.
Conor McPherson, writer, director and Old Vic Associate Artist, 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. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone in the spring and sharing this new story.’
Matthew Warchus, Artistic Director of The Old Vic, said: ‘It’s such an honour to welcome back Conor McPherson to The Old Vic. Indisputably one of the world’s greatest living writers, and a superb director to boot, Conor has long been a personal favourite of mine. Back in 2017, I invited him to create Girl from the North Country for The Old Vic and witnessed him weave his own distinct magic with that unique and wonderful show. So I am beyond excited to be premiering his funny, breathtaking and heart-wrenching brand new play, The Brightening Air_, this coming spring.’_
Written and directed by Conor McPherson, Set and Costume is by Rae Smith, Lighting by Mark Henderson, Sound by Gregory Clarke, Movement and Intimacy by Lucy Hind, Casting by Serena Hill CDG and Voice by Charlie Hughes-D'Aeth.
Further creative team and the cast is to be announced.
***** "Outstanding" – The Irish Times
***** "The finest play of the year" – The i
**** "Hilarious and achingly moving" – The Standard
**** "Enthralling, bittersweet comedy-drama" – The Stage
**** "Conor McPherson returns with a bang" – Time Out
Cast & Crew
Cast
- Brian Gleeson - Stephen
- Rosie Sheehy - Billie
- Seán McGinley - Pierre
- Hannah Morrish - Lydia
- Chris O’Dowd - Dermot
- Eimhin Fitzgerald Doherty - Brendan
- Derbhle Crotty - Elizabeth
- Aisling Kearns - Freya
- Ella Maria Carmen - Understudy Billie/Freya
- Callum Cronin - Understudy Brendan/Stephen
- Amy Vicary-Smith - Understudy Elizabeth/Lydia
- Joseph McCarthy - Understudy Dermot/Pierre
Crew
- Conor McPherson - Writer & Director
- Rae Smith - Set & Costume
- Mark Henderson - Lighting
- Gregory Clarke - Sound
- Lucy Hind - Movement & Intimacy
- Serena Hill CDG - Casting
- Charlie Hughes-D’Aeth - Voice
- Danièle Lydon - Dialect
- Kate Waters - Fights
- Anastasia Osei-Kuffour - Associate Director
- Niall McKeever - Associate Set
- Poppy Hall - Costume Supervisor
- Kim Kasim - Wigs, Hair & Make-Up Supervisor
- Fahmida Bakht - Props Supervisor
- Ben McQuigg - Music Supervisor
- Laura Draper - Company Stage Manager
- Fran O’Donnell - Deputy Stage Manager
- Sophie Alice Cooper - Assistant Stage Manager
Location
Maps
The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London, SE1 8NB
Get Directions(Opens in new tab)Getting there
Local routes include 1, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 68, N1, N171 and N68. Visit the TFL website(Opens in new tab) to plan your journey.
The Old Vic is brilliantly connected to many major tube and train lines.
We are two minutes’ walk from Waterloo station, served by the Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee and Waterloo & City tube lines, as well as the South West national rail line. Exit via EXIT 2 (Waterloo Road) and turn right; The Old Vic is straight ahead of you, approximately 220 steps away.
Waterloo East, served by the South Eastern national rail line, is also a five minute walk away.
We are two minutes’ walk from Southwark station (Jubilee tube line) and 15 minutes’ walk from Blackfriars station (District and Circle tube lines, and South Eastern national rail line). All these stations are in Zone 1. Visit the TFL website(Opens in new tab) to plan your journey.
News
Review: The Brightening Air
Conor McPherson’s family tragicomedy at the Old Vic feels like a future classic
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