Martin McDonagh's Olivier-winning play The Pillowman will play London's Duke of York's Theatre in its first major revival next year. Lily Allen (2:22 - A Ghost Story) and Steve Pemberton (She Stoops to Conquer)will star in the production, set to begin June 10, 2023 for a strictly limited engagement through September 2. Opening night will be June 21.
“Having Lily play Katurian, the first time this role has been played by a woman in an English-speaking version, is just so, so exciting to me,” said McDonagh in a statement. Allen made her West End debut in 2:22 - A Ghost Story at the Noël Coward Theatre under the direction of Matthew Dunster.
Black comedy The Pillowman is set in a totalitarian state, and follows a writer who is being questioned by authorities about a series of murders. Why is the writer suspected? The murders are eerily similar to her short stories.
Further casting is to be announced.
Dunster will direct The Pillowman in his third take on a McDonagh play. Dunster previously directed Hangmen in 2016 at Royal Court Theatre, which subsequently transferred to Wyndham's Theatre before crossing the ocean to Broadway's John Golden Theatre. That production earned two Olivier wins, a third Olivier nomination, and five 2022 Tony nominations. Dunster also directed McDonagh's A Very Very Very Dark Matter in 2018 at London's Bridge Theatre.
Anna Fleischle (Hangmen, A Very Very Very Dark Matter) will also once again join Dunster on a McDonagh play as set and costume designer. Other creative team members for The Pillowman include lighting designer Neil Austin and sound designer Ian Dickinson for Autograph. Casting is by Amy Ball.
Martin McDonagh’s other plays include The Beauty Queen of Leenane, A Skull in Connemara, The Lonesome West, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, The Cripple of Inishmaan, and A Behanding in Spokane.
Empire Street Productions produces The Pillowman (and previously produced the West End production of Prima Facie which will arrive on Broadway in spring 2023).
For tickets and more information, visit PillowmanPlay.com.
Check out photos of Hangmen on Broadway below.
Josh Goulding, Ryan Pope, Jeremy Crutchley, Andy Nyman, John Horton, David Threlfall, and Richard Hollis
Jeremy Crutchley, Richard Hollis, David Threlfall, Tracie Bennett, Ryan Pope, John Horton, and Owen Campbell
David Threlfall, Andy Nyman, Richard Hollis, John Horton, and Ryan Pope
Tracie Bennett and Gaby French
Alfie Allen and Gaby French
