Josie Rourke's THE WEIR Revival Transfers to Wyndham's Theatre Tonight

Josie Rourke's Donmar Warehouse production of Conor McPherson's THE WEIR will be transferring to Wyndham's Theatre in the West End, beginning tonight, January 16, 2014, for a January 22nd opening. The show stars Risteard Cooper, Brian Cox, Dervla Kirwan, Peter McDonald and Ardal O'Hanlon.

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, and its West End transfer will be Rourke's first since she began as the Donmar's artistic director.

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.

Conor McPherson (playwright) 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.

Pictured: Ardal O'Hanlon (Jim) and Peter McDonald (Brendan). Photo Credit: Helen Warner.

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