The Lieutenant of Inishmore
Noel Coward Theatre
4.6/5 based on 29 reviews (read reviews)- Booking until: Saturday, 8 September 2018
- Running time: 1 hour 50 minutes including interval
The Lieutenant of Inishmore photos
The Lieutenant of Inishmore description
The Michael Grandage Company has dominated the West End ever since its inaugural season five years ago this month. Led by the ex-Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse, Michael Grandage, the company exploded onto the scene with five back to back plays at the Noel Coward Theatre, sporting such global stars as Daniel Radcliffe, Simon Russell Beale and Jude Law. More recently, the company has brought Nicole Kidman to London in Photograph 51 and has just closed a run of Labour of Love, with Martin Freeman and Tamsin Grieg.
Now, the acclaimed director is back in the driving seat with a double bill of productions running almost simultaneously – Red, at Wyndham’s Theatre for 11 weeks from 4 May 2018, and The Lieutenant of Inishmore, at the Noel Coward Theatre for ten weeks from 23 June 2018.
The Lieutenant of Inishmore is set around the time of the Northern Irish peace process in 1993, which is slowly taking shape. Unhinged young man Mad Padraic is busy in the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) when he gets some bad news – Wee Thomas is sick. He rushes home to discover his poor cat dead, possibly murdered. Mad Padraic sets about finding the killer, putting his extensive knowledge of interrogation and torture tactics to good use.
The play is the second in The Aran Islands Trilogy by acclaimed playwright Martin McDonagh, who last worked with Grandage during the company’s inaugural West End season back in 2013. The first play of the triology, The Cripple Of Inishmaan, played at the Noel Coward Theatre to critical acclaim and starred Daniel Radcliffe.
Grandage returns to the helm in directing this latest work, bringing in star of Poldark,Aidan Turner, to play the leading role of Mad Padraic. Turner last played on a London stage back in 2005, in The Plough and the Stars at The Barbican. This role marks his return to theatre after 10 years in TV and Film, most notably inBeing Human, The Hobbit trilogy and as Ross Poldark in the series of the same name.
Mcdonagh’s play first premiered in 2001 by The RSC, later transferring to The Barbican where it won the 2003 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. Now it returns to the West End for a limited season and, with Turner at the helm, is guaranteed to sell out fast.
Starring
Aidan Turner
Playing at Noel Coward Theatre
Age restrictions
Suitable for 16+
Important information
Latecomers will not be admitted and, as an advisory to adults who might bring young people, all persons aged under 16 must be accompanied and sat next to the accompanying adult. They may not sit on their own within the auditorium. If children do have separate seats you could be refused entry. All persons entering the theatre, regardless of age, must have a ticket.
Please be advised that the performance on 6th September 2018 is a Charity Gala performance in aid of MGCfutures.
The Gala performance will raise funds for the Michael Grandage Company’s educational work through its charity MGCfutures.