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In a momentous theatrical event, acclaimed actor Brendan Gleeson is set to make his triumphant return to the stage after a decade-long absence in Conor McPherson’s haunting masterpiece THE WEIR. This special production marks several significant milestones as McPherson directs his own work for the first time since writing it nearly thirty years ago, while Gleeson, whose recent screen performances in THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN and IN BRUGES have cemented his status as one of Ireland’s greatest acting talents, will make his West End debut.

The announcement from Landmark Productions and Kate Horton Productions has already created tremendous anticipation among theatre enthusiasts. Gleeson, whose last stage appearance was in THE WALWORTH FARCE at Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre in 2015, will return to that same venue where he began his career, performing from August 8 to September 6 before transferring to London’s Harold Pinter Theatre for a run extending to December 2025. “Conor McPherson’s THE WEIR is one of the rarest plays around,” Gleeson remarked, expressing his excitement about returning to the stage and making his West End debut.

McPherson himself shared his disbelief that thirty years have passed since writing the play, calling it “an absolute honour” to bring it to life again with “one of the great titans of Irish acting.” THE WEIR, a profound meditation on human connection, takes place on a stormy night in rural Ireland where four local men gather in an isolated pub. Their usual banter is disrupted by the arrival of a woman named Valerie, leading them to share increasingly unsettling stories to impress her, unaware that she carries a deeply personal tale of her own that will shake them all.

The play stands as a testament to our fundamental need for connection, the possibility of finding hope in darkness, and the enduring power of storytelling. Kate Horton described being “spellbound” by the play at its Royal Court premiere and expressed joy at bringing together such titans of Irish and international theatre. Anne Clarke of Landmark Productions recalled the thrill of learning about the project, having previously worked with Gleeson on THE WALWORTH FARCE alongside his sons Brian and Domhnall.

This new production promises to be an extraordinary theatrical event, bringing together a legendary actor at the height of his powers with one of contemporary drama’s most moving and profound works, offering audiences in both Dublin and London a rare opportunity to witness theatrical magic in the making.