AFTER the short run at the Royal Court Theatre sold out in just one day, the producers have announced that Jez Butterworth’s epic new play, The Ferryman, will transfer to the West End – to the Gielgud Theatre where it will run from June 20 to October 7, 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 actor, director and writer Paddy Considine will be joined by Laura Donnelly and Genevieve O’Reilly in the production directed by Sam Mendes.
The cast will also 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, seven covers, 12 children on rota and 1 baby.
Developed by Sonia Friedman Productions, the premiere of The Ferryman is co-produced with Neal Street Productions and Royal Court Theatre Productions. The West End production will follow the run at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs (April 24 to May 20).
Jez Butterworth, whose plays include Jerusalem, Mojo and The River, previously collaborated with Sam Mendes on the scripts for Spectre and Skyfall from the Bond franchise. The Ferryman will be the sixth of Butterworth’s plays to be premiered at the Royal Court Theatre and marks his fourth collaboration with Sonia Friedman Productions.
Sonia Friedman, on behalf of Sonia Friedman Productions, Neal Street Productions and Royal Court Theatre Productions said: “We are delighted that we have made it possible to transfer Jez Butterworth’s new play The Ferryman, which will move to the Gielgud Theatre almost immediately after its run at the Royal Court Theatre finishes.
“When it first went on sale at the Court, it sold out in record time. It became clear to us even then that there was a far larger demand to see the play than the Court run could ever accommodate. We have therefore worked at speed to find the production another home as quickly as possible, which is no mean feat, and we are very grateful to the company for helping us make this happen.
“It is thrilling to know that wider audiences will now have a chance to see this extraordinary new work from one of our most important writers. The scope, scale and ambition of Jez’s new play deserves this opportunity and I am delighted that together with Royal Court Theatre Productions and Neal Street Productions we are in the privileged position to make it happen.”
The Ferryman is directed by Sam Mendes and designed by Rob Howell, with lighting by Peter Mumford and music and sound by Nick Powell.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 10 at 9am – to book, call 0844 482 5130 (calls cost up to 7p per minute plus your standard network charge) or visit www.theferrymanplay.com/.
Over 20,000 tickets for the West End run will be on sale at less than £25, with tickets at all performances from just £12. All tickets for previews will be at reduced prices.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time continues at the Gielgud Theatre until June 3, 2017.