Jez Butterworth's new play The Ferryman directed by Sam Mendes coming to the Gielgud theatre from the Royal Court for 16 weeks from 20 June 2017.
"Rural Derry, 1981. The Carney farmhouse is a hive of activity with preparations for the annual harvest. A day of hard work on the land and a traditional night of feasting and celebrations lie ahead. But this year they will be interrupted by a visitor..."
Multi-award winning director Sam Mendes will be returning to the West End, directing Jez Butterworth's brand new play The Ferryman. The play will be designed by Rob Howell and developed by and co-produced with Sonia Friedman Productions.
Writer Jez Butterworth's theatre debut at the Royal Court was major success of his drama Mojo which premiered in 1995. It won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy along with an Evening Standard Award. A new production, directed once again by Ian Rickson, was mounted at the Harold Pinter Theatre in 2013.
Butterworth's most successful play to date, Jerusalem, was described as a "contemporary vision of life in England's green and pleasant land" and starred Mark Rylance as Johnny 'Rooster' Byron. It won the Evening Standard Theatre Award and Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best New Play and opened on Broadway in April 2011 to rave reviews and a Tony Award nomination for Best New Play.
In 2012 Butterworth's play The River opened at the Royal Court Theatre in a production that starred Dominic West, Laura Donnelly and Miranda Raison. It transferred to Broadway's Circle in the Square Theatre in October 2014, starring Hugh Jackman.
Director Sam Mendes returns to the West End after a number of successful Shakespearean adaptations including Richard III, As You Like It and The Tempest at the Old Vic.
Jez Butterworth and Sam Mendes have previously collaborated on the scripts for Spectre and Skyfall from the Bond franchise.
Casting for The Ferryman will include Paddy Considine, the English actor, filmmaker, and musician. His film credits include '24 Hour Party People' (2002), 'Hot Fuzz' (2007), 'The Bourne Ultimatum' (2007), 'The World's End' (2013) and Macbeth (2015). His television roles include 'Peaky Blinders' and 'The Suspicions of Mr Whicher'.
He will be joined by Laura Donnelly who previously starred in The River at the Royal Court and on Broadway and Irish actress Genevieve O'Reilly who is best known for her work in the Star Wars franchise as Mon Mothma.
The cast will then include Bríd Brennan, Turlough Convery, Fra Fee, Tom Glynn-Carney, Stuart Graham, Gerard Horan, Carla Langley, Des McAleer, Conor MacNeill, Rob Malone, Dearbhla Molloy, Eugene O’Hare and Niall Wright with further casting to be announced. The full company comprises 38 performers: 18 main adults, 7 covers, 12 children on rota and 1 baby.
Book your tickets well in advance to avoid disappointment!