The Ferryman casting announcement and West End transfer

Published on Wed 8 Feb 2017

Sonia Friedman Productions, Neal Street Productions & Royal Court Theatre Productions present

The Ferryman
By Jez Butterworth
Directed by Sam Mendes

  • Jez Butterworth’s new play, directed by Sam Mendes, to transfer to the Gielgud Theatre from the Royal Court for 16 weeks from 20 June.
  • Paddy Considine is confirmed to play the part of Quinn Carney within a cast of 23 and he will be joined by Laura Donnelly in the role of Caitlin Carney and Genevieve O’Reilly in the role of Mary Carney.
  • The Ferryman is the fastest selling play in the history of the Royal Court Theatre.
  • Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday 10 February at 9am. Booking here.
  • 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.

After the short run at the Royal Court Theatre sold out in just one day, the producers are delighted to announce that Jez Butterworth’s epic, new play The Ferryman will transfer to the West End. 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, 7 covers, 12 children on rota and 1 baby.

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.

The Ferryman will run at the Gielgud Theatre for 16 weeks from 20 June – 7 October with an opening night on 29 June. Tickets go on sale to priority bookers on Wednesday 8 February and the Box Office opens for general on-sale on Friday 10 February at 9am.

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 which begins 24 April 2017, with an opening night on 3 May.  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, designed by Rob Howell, with lighting by Peter Mumford, and music and sound by Nick Powell.

For the full press release click here.