Donmar Warehouse Announces Cast for THE WEIR, Other McPherson's Plays

Today the Donmar Warehouse announces the cast for The Weir, which will be followed by the world premiere of a new play also by Conor McPherson this June. The casts for both shows represent a gathering of some of the finest exponents of McPherson's work and the back to back productions will allow audiences to see his latest work alongside his recognised masterpiece. Risteárd Cooper, Brian Cox, Dervla Kirwan, Peter McDonald and Ardal O'Hanlon will star in The Weir, directed by Josie Rourke from 18 April to 08 June 2013. Following this, The Night Alive will make its world premiere on 13 June, directed by McPherson himself. The cast for The Night Alive are Caoilfhionn Dunne, Brian Gleeson, Ciarán Hinds, Michael McElhatton and Jim Norton.

On Monday 08 April the first batch of Barclays Front Row tickets for The Weir will go on sale at 10am. With Barclays Front Row, every Monday at 10am over 300 tickets in the front row of the stalls and circle of the Donmar are put on sale at just £10 for performances two weeks later. Tickets can be purchased online by going to www.donmarwarehouse.com/barclaysfrontrow , in person at the box office or on the telephone.

THE WEIR

By Conor McPherson

18 April - 08 June 2013
Press night: Thursday 25 April 2013

Director: Josie Rourke
Designer: Tom Scutt
Lighting Designer: Neil Austin
Sound Designer: Ian Dickinson

"There's no dark like a winter night in the country. And there was a wind like this one tonight, howling and whistling in off the sea... It was this type of night now. Am I setting the scene for you?"

In Brendan's pub, isolated above the town, the men are gathering for their daily pint. The arrival of a stranger in their midst - a woman - spurs them to impress her with stories. They are stories of souls past and of spirits very much present. But one story is more chilling and more real than any of the men could have foreseen.

The Weir won the Evening Standard, Critics' Circle and Olivier Award for Best New Play in 1999, establishing McPherson as one of our greatest living playwrights. Josie Rourke's production marks the first major British revival of this undoubted modern classic.

Josie Rourke (Director) became Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse in 2012. Since her appointment she has directed Berenice, The Physicists and The Recruiting Officer. Rourke trained at the Donmar, under Sam Mendes, through the theatre's annual Resident Assistant Director scheme. Prior to the Donmar, she was Artistic Director at the Bush Theatre, London, from 2007 to 2011. Her 2010 production of Men Should Weep by Ena Lamont Stewart ran in the Lyttelton at The National Theatre. In 2011 her production of Much Ado About Nothing, starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate, ran in the West End at Wyndham's Theatre and received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Revival.

Risteárd Cooper's (playing Finbar) theatre credits include Juno and the Paycock (National Theatre) and Pygmalion (National Theatre of Ireland). He also appeared in the feature film Batman Begins.

Brian Cox (playing Jack) has performed in the West End, on Broadway, at The National Theatre, the Royal Court and numerous other theatres in the UK. He has a hugely prolific television and film career and feature films include The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Identity, Troy and X-Men 2. Television credits include Bob Servant Independent, The Day of the Triffids, Doctor Who and Frasier.

Dervla Kirwan (playing Valerie) has previously performed at the Donmar in Betrayal. Other theatre credits include Uncle Vanya (Chichester Festival), Aristocrats and Exiles (National Theatre), A Handful of Stars (Bush Theatre), Fathers and Sons (Gate Theatre, Dublin) and Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Bristol Old Vic). She is widely known for her television roles in Ballykissangel and Goodnight Sweetheart. Films include Ondine and December Bride.

Peter McDonald (playing Brendan) has previously performed at the Donmar in Days of Wine and Roses and A Lie of the Mind. He has performed at The National Theatre, the Royal Court, The Old Vic, West End and numerous other UK theatres. He has worked with Conor McPherson on a number of projects including the film Saltwater. His extensive work on screen includes the film The Damned United and recent television includes Mayday and Moone Boy.

Ardal O'Hanlon (playing Jim) is an award-winning comedian, actor, writer and star of hit television series Father Ted and My Hero. His theatre work includes Conor McPheron's Port Authority (Southwark Playhouse), The God of Carnage (Gate Theatre, Dublin) and See You Next Tuesday (West End). O'Hanlon is a Best Selling author with his debut novel, The Talk of the Town. He starred in the feature film Wide Open Spaces and continues to tour internationally with his stand up show.

THE NIGHT ALIVE

A new play by Conor McPherson

13 June 2013 - 27 July 2013

Press Night: Wednesday 19 June 2013

Director: Conor McPherson

Designer: Soutra Gilmour

Lighting Designer: Neil Austin

Sound Designer: Gregory Clarke

"You only get a few goes. At life. You don't get endless goes. Two, three goes maybe. When you hit the right groove you'll click right in there... this is it"

The Donmar will continue its celebration of one of the English language's leading theatrical voices by following Conor McPherson's contemporary classic, The Weir, with the world premiere of McPherson's startling new play, The Night Alive, which he will also direct.

With inimitable warmth, style and craft, Conor McPherson's new play deftly mines the humanity to be found in the most unlikely of situations.

Tommy's not a bad man, he's getting by. Renting a rundown room in his uncle Maurice's house, just about keeping his ex-wife and kids at arm's length and rolling from one get-rich-quick scheme to the other with his pal Doc. Then one day he comes to the aid of Aimee, who's not had it easy herself, struggling through life the only way she knows how. Their past won't let go easily. But together there's a glimmer of hope they could make something more of their lives.

Conor McPherson (Director) was named by The New York Times as "the finest playwright of his generation". He won the George Devine Award in 1997 with his play St Nicholas. In 2006 he received a Tony Award nomination for Shining City and an Olivier Award nomination for Best New Play for The Seafarer. In 2011 he wrote and directed The Veil for The National Theatre and in 2012 adapted Strindberg's The Dance of Death for the Donmar Trafalgar Season. Most recently Conor has worked on the new BBC series, Quirke.

Caoilfhionn Dunne (playing Aimee) recently performed in Conor McPherson's The Veil (National Theatre) and other theatre includes King Lear (Abbey Theatre, Dublin). Her film and television credits include Love/Hate, Vexed, Wrath of the Titans, Corduroy and Little White Lie.

Brian Gleeson (playing Kenneth) has recently worked with Conor McPherson on the new BBC series, Quirke. His recent theatre work includes The Silver Tassie (Druid Theatre Company). Other television credits include Primeval, Single-Handed and Trouble in Paradise. In 2012 he starred in the feature film Snow White and the Huntsman.

Ciarán Hinds (playing Tommy) appeared in the first ever Donmar production, Stephen Sondheim's Assassins, directed by Sam Mendes. He has previously worked with Conor McPherson on The Birds (Gate Theatre, Dublin), The Seafarer (Broadway) and The Eclipse (feature film). Most recently he appeared on Broadway as Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. His prolific theatre career has seen him take on leading roles at the RSC, the Royal Court, and The National Theatre. On television, he appeared in the new US series Political Animals, Above Suspicion and is soon to be seen in Game of Thrones. His extensive film credits include The Woman in Black, The Road to Perdition, Miami Vice, Munich, There Will Be Blood and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Michael McElhatton (playing Doc) has worked with Conor McPherson on The Seafarer (National Theatre), Shining City (Royal Court/Gate Theatre, Dublin) and The Eclipse (feature film). His extensive film and television credits include Albert Nobbs, Superhero, Shadow Dancer, Titanic - Blood & Steel and Game of Thrones .

Jim Norton (playing Maurice) is an award-winning actor with a prolific career both on stage and screen. He won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor and Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in Conor McPherson's, The Seafarer (National Theatre/Broadway). He has also worked with McPherson on The Veil (National Theatre), Dublin Carol (Atlantic Theatre, New York), Come On Over (Gate Theatre, Dublin) Port Authority (West End) and The Eclipse (feature film). Norton has previously performed in The Weir on Broadway and in Dublin, gaining an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor. He is most recognised for his role in the hit television show, Father Ted and film credits include Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Water for Elephants and The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas.

For more information, visit: www.donmarwarehouse.com

Box Office: 0844 871 7624 (Booking fee of £2.50 per transaction)