Chris O’Dowd Leads Cast in The Brightening Air at the Old Vic
The Old Vic has revealed the complete cast for the highly anticipated world premiere of The Brightening Air, a new play written and directed by Olivier Award-winning playwright Conor McPherson (The Weir, The Seafarer). The production marks McPherson’s return to the venue following the critically acclaimed Girl from the North Country in 2017.
About the Play
Set in 1980s Ireland, The Brightening Air explores the complexities of family dynamics, as a seemingly ordinary household is upended by the arrival of unexpected guests, including “an ex-clergyman uncle, a sister-in-law seeking a miracle, and a prodigal brother hell-bent on trouble.”
The play promises McPherson’s signature blend of humour, heartbreak, and humanity, set against the backdrop of an era of significant cultural and social change in Ireland.
Chris O’Dowd Leads Cast in The Brightening Air at the Old Vic
The Old Vic has revealed the complete cast for the highly anticipated world premiere of The Brightening Air, a new play written and directed by Olivier Award-winning playwright Conor McPherson (The Weir, The Seafarer). The production marks McPherson’s return to the venue following the critically acclaimed Girl from the North Country in 2017.
About the Play
Set in 1980s Ireland, The Brightening Air explores the complexities of family dynamics, as a seemingly ordinary household is upended by the arrival of unexpected guests, including “an ex-clergyman uncle, a sister-in-law seeking a miracle, and a prodigal brother hell-bent on trouble.”
The play promises McPherson’s signature blend of humour, heartbreak, and humanity, set against the backdrop of an era of significant cultural and social change in Ireland.
The Cast
The stellar cast includes:
Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, Moone Boy)
Derbhle Crotty (Portia Coughlan)
Eimhin Fitzgerald Doherty (Juno and the Paycock)
Brian Gleeson (Bad Sisters, Peaky Blinders)
Aisling Kearns (Juno and the Paycock)
Seán McGinley (A Whistle in the Dark)
Hannah Morrish (The Merchant of Venice 1936)
Rosie Sheehy (Machinal, Cymbeline)
The company is completed by understudies:
Ella Maria Carmen
Callum Cronin
Joseph McCarthy
Amy Vicary-Smith
Creative Team
The production features an accomplished creative team:
Set and Costume Design: Rae Smith (War Horse)
Lighting Design: Mark Henderson (The Ferryman)
Sound Design: Gregory Clarke (Jerusalem)
Movement and Intimacy Direction: Lucy Hind (Girl from the North Country)
Voice Coach: Charlie Hughes-D’Aeth
Dialect Coach: Danièle Lydon (Translations)
Fight Direction: Kate Waters (Othello)
Supporting roles include:
Associate Director: Anastasia Osei-Kuffour (An Octoroon)
Associate Set Designer: Niall McKeever
Costume Supervisor: Poppy Hall
Props Supervisor: Fahmida Bakht
Music Associate: Benjamin McQuigg
Performance Details
Venue: Old Vic Theatre, London
Dates: 10 April to 14 June 2025
Press Night: 24 April 2025
With a renowned playwright at the helm, a top-tier cast led by Chris O’Dowd, and an engaging premise steeped in Irish culture and familial conflict, The Brightening Air is poised to be one of the theatrical highlights of 2025.
