Lyric Hammersmith: The Beauty Queen of Leenane

[NeilVHughes]

Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre present

The Beauty Queen of Leenane

09 Oct - 06 Nov 2021
by Martin McDonagh. Directed by Rachel O’Riordan.

We're delighted to announce a major revival of The Beauty Queen of Leenane, the Tony Award-winning play by Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; The Lieutenant of Inishmore), directed by our Artistic Director Rachel O’Riordan in a new co-production with Chichester Festival Theatre. Tickets are on sale now.

In the mountains of Connemara, County Galway, Maureen Folan – a plain, lonely woman, tied to her manipulative and ageing mother, Mag – comes alive at her first and possibly last prospect of a loving relationship. But Mag has other ideas; and her interference sets in motion a train of events that leads inexorably towards the play’s breathtaking conclusion.

This darkly comic play will star Ingrid Craig as Mag (Roadkill; The Cripple of Inishmaan) and Kwaku Fortune as Ray (Line of Duty; Normal People) and will be designed by Good Teeth Theatre, with lighting design by Kevin Treacy, music and sound design by Anna Clock and casting by Sam Stevenson. Further casting to be announced.


Tickets from £10, On sale now.

[Dave B]

Had Lyric's email waiting this morning and tickets in my inbox within 30 seconds of booking. Nice.

[zahidf]

Great play! well up for this

[Fleance]

Do they mean Ingrid Craigie, whom I remember so well as Mary Jane in the movie The Dead (1987)? The press material says Craig.

[alicechallice]

May 13, 2021 17:19:58 GMT Fleance said:

Do they mean Ingrid Craigie, whom I remember so well as Mary Jane in the movie The Dead (1987)? The press material says Craig.

Chichester website has it as Craigie.

[theatrelover123]

I think it's Craigalie Rose.

[Dave B]

Really really enjoyed this. Audience clearly up for it and enjoying it throughout. Fab cast, fab play.

[barrowside]

I can't quite imagine Ingrid Craigie as Mag, but she's probably wonderful. She usually is.

[david]

Another new theatre for me to visit at tonight’s show. I certainly wasn’t expecting that wonderful auditorium when I took my seat. For £15, I couldn’t fault the view from my row C stalls seat and I’m planning on booking for the recently announced shows at the Lyric Hammersmith on the same row. As an extra bonus, I also got to meet up with fellow board member NeilVHughes for the evening. It’s really nice to actually meet up with folk from the board and chew over thoughts on productions and life in general.

For the show itself, as a big fan of Martin Mcdonagh’s work, the play really was a great watch. A fantastic cast has been assembled here. Ingrid Craigie as Mag really was wonderful and the standout for me.

Overall, a really great 2 Irish play day at 2 fantastic venues which I will be revisiting in the future based on my experiences today.

[Forrest]

Thanks david. I'm kind of on the edge of booking for this... but you make it sound like perhaps I should.

[NeilVHughes]

Forrest definitely worth a punt.

Darkly comic with great performances and for me one of the most engaging plays I have seen recently, laugh out funny in places balanced with a scene where if at home would be cowering behind the sofa as it was difficult to watch.

It was good to bump into a fellow boarder david who is definitely having a busy week, a warning if sat next to me and you have the Theatre Board app I will likely start up a conversation and not necessarily in the Theatre itself as for some reason the Theatre Gods had put us in adjacent tables in the Weatherspoon’s across the road.

In all a good play in good company and well worth a visit for those considering the play.

[Dave B]

Oct 14, 2021 21:56:32 GMT david said:

Another new theatre for me to visit at tonight’s show. I certainly wasn’t expecting that wonderful auditorium when I took my seat. For £15, I couldn’t fault the view from my row C stalls seat and I’m planning on booking for the recently announced shows at the Lyric Hammersmith on the same row.

We have booked the full season for 2022, there was a great offer which meant those row C seats worked out as less than a tenner *and* according to the seating maps they will then be the front row.

[emsworthian]

The theatre is another of Matcham's. The auditorium was saved when they demolished the original theatre and reconstructed in the modern shell. I used to go reguarly when I lived in Fulham.

I saw this production when it was on in Chichester at the Minerva and I felt it benefitted from the intimate setting, which added to the sense of claustrophobia. I wasn't sure that it would work as well in the main theatre at the Lyric but I am glad you enjoyed it, Dave B.

[londonpostie]

Quite the promo line: £10 tickets and a Weatherspoons opposite!

[david]

Oct 15, 2021 9:39:10 GMT Dave B said:

Oct 14, 2021 21:56:32 GMT david said:

Another new theatre for me to visit at tonight’s show. I certainly wasn’t expecting that wonderful auditorium when I took my seat. For £15, I couldn’t fault the view from my row C stalls seat and I’m planning on booking for the recently announced shows at the Lyric Hammersmith on the same row.

We have booked the full season for 2022, there was a great offer which meant those row C seats worked out as less than a tenner *and* according to the seating maps they will then be the front row.

Just had a read of next years season and Scandaltown, Britainnicus, and Closer look like interesting plays so will get them booked with the 3 for 2 offer. 

[drmaplewood]

Enjoyed this last night but wasn't quite the highs of the superb Young Vic production 10 (!) years ago. Kwaku Fortune was quite weak as Ray but Orla Fitzgerald is superb and menacing as Maureen.