# The Ferryman (play)

The Ferryman is a 2017 play by Jez Butterworth. Set during the Troubles, it tells the story of the family of a former IRA volunteer, living in their farmhouse in rural County Armagh, Northern Ireland in 1981.

## Synopsis

The play is set in a farmhouse in County Armagh, Northern Ireland in 1981. It is harvest day in 1981 and the multi-generational family Quinn, Mary & their seven children share their home with Uncle Pat, Aunt Mary, Aunt Pat, Quinn's sister-in-law Caitlin and her son Oisin. Caitlin's husband 'disappeared' in 1971 and his remains have been uncovered at a politically sensitive time for the Republican Movement.

## Production history
### London (2017)

The Ferryman had its world premiere at the Royal Court Theatre on 24 April 2017 running to 20 May, directed by Sam Mendes. It was the fastest-selling play in Royal Court Theatre history. The cast included Paddy Considine, Laura Donnelly (the disappearance of her real-life uncle, Eugene Simons, was the inspiration for Butterworth's plot), Genevieve O'Reilly, Bríd Brennan, Fra Fee, John Hodgkinson, Stuart Graham, Gerard Horan, Carla Langley, Des McAleer, Conor MacNeill, Rob Malone, Dearbhla Molloy, Eugene O'Hare and Niall Wright.

### West End (2017–2018)

The production transferred to the Gielgud Theatre, opening on 29 June 2017, following previews from 20 June. After a first cast change on 9 October 2017 with William Houston (Quinn Carney), Sarah Greene (Caitlin Carney), Ivan Kaye (Tom Kettle) and others joining the company, a second cast change took place on 8 January 2018, featuring Rosalie Craig (as Caitlin Carney), Owen McDonnell (as Quinn Carney), Laurie Kynaston (as Oisin Carney), Saoirse-Monica Jackson (as Shena Carney) Sean Delaney (as Michael Carney), Kevin Creedon (as JJ Carney), Francis Mezza (as Shane Corcoran), Terence Keeley (as Diarmaid Corcoran), and Justin Edwards. The production closed on 19 May 2018.

### Broadway (2018–2019)

The production transferred to the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Broadway, beginning previews on 2 October 2018 with many members of the London cast. The play, which went on to win four Tony Awards, including Best Play, closed on 7 July 2019.

## Cast and characters

| Role | Royal Court | West End | Broadway |
| Role | 2017 | 2017 | 2018 |
| Aunt Maggie Far Away | Brid Brennan | Brid Brennan | Fionnula Flanagan |
| Lawrence Malone | Turlough Convery | Turlough Convery | Glenn Speers |
| Michael Carney | Fra Fee | Fra Fee | Fra Fee |
| Muldoon | Stuart Graham | Stuart Graham | Stuart Graham |
| Tom Kettle | John Hodgkinson | John Hodgkinson | Justin Edwards |
| Shena Carney | Carla Langley | Carla Langley | Carla Langley |
| Diarmaid Corcoran | Conor MacNeill | Conor MacNeill | Conor MacNeill |
| Aunt Pat | Dearbhla Molloy | Dearbhla Molloy | Dearbhla Molloy |
| Mary Carney | Genevieve O'Reilly | Genevieve O'Reilly | Genevieve O'Reilly |
| Quinn Carney | Paddy Considine | Paddy Considine | Paddy Considine |
| Caitlin Carney | Laura Donnelly | Laura Donnelly | Laura Donnelly |
| Shane Corcoran | Tom Glynn-Carney | Tom Glynn-Carney | Tom Glynn-Carney |
| Father Horrigan | Gerard Horan | Gerard Horan | Charles Dale |
| Uncle Pat | Des McAleer | Des McAleer | Mark Lambert |
| Oisin Carney | Rob Malone | Rob Malone | Rob Malone |
| Frank Magennis | Eugene O'Hare | Eugene O'Hare | Dean Ashton |
| JJ Carney | Niall Wright | Niall Wright | Niall Wright |
| Mercy Carney | Elise Alexandre Darcey Conway Darcy Jacobs Scarlett Nunes Scarlett Jolly | Elise Alexandre Darcey Conway Darcy Jacobs Scarlett Nunes Scarlett Jolly | Willow McCarthy |
| Honor Carney | Sophia Ally Grace Doherty | Sophia Ally Grace Doherty | Matilda Lawler |
| Nunu Carney | Clara Murphy Angel O'Callaghan Isla Griffiths | Clara Murphy Angel O'Callaghan Isla Griffiths | Brooklyn Shuck |
| Declan Corcoran | Michael McCarthy Xavier Moras Spencer Jack Nuttall | Michael McCarthy Xavier Moras Spencer Jack Nuttall | Michael Quinton McArthur |

### Notable cast replacements
#### West End (2017–2018)

* Aunt Maggie Far Away: Maureen Beattie
* Tom Kettle: Ivan Kaye, Justin Edwards
* Mary Carney: Catherine McCormack
* Quinn Carney: William Houston, Owen McDonnell
* Caitlin Carney: Sarah Greene, Rosalie Craig
* Shane Corcoran: Laurie Davidson
* Oisin Carney: Laurie Kynaston
* Michael Carney: Sean Delaney
* Shena Carney: Saoirse-Monica Jackson

#### Broadway (2018–2019)

* Quinn Carney: Brian d'Arcy James
* Caitlin Carney: Holley Fain
* Mary Carney: Emily Bergl
* Uncle Pat: Fred Applegate
* Muldoon: Ralph Brown
* Michael Carney: Sean Delaney
* Tom Kettle: Shuler Hensley

## Awards and nominations
### Original London production

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2017 | Evening Standard Theatre Award | Best Play | Jez Butterworth | Won |
| 2017 | Evening Standard Theatre Award | Best Actress | Laura Donnelly | Nominated |
| 2017 | Evening Standard Theatre Award | Best Director | Sam Mendes | Won |
| 2017 | Evening Standard Theatre Award | Emerging Talent | Tom Glynn-Carney | Won |
| 2017 | Critics’ Circle Theatre Award | Best New Play | Jez Butterworth | Won |
| 2018 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best New Play | Best New Play | Won |
| 2018 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actor | Paddy Considine | Nominated |
| 2018 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actress | Laura Donnelly | Won |
| 2018 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | John Hodgkinson | Nominated |
| 2018 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Bríd Brennan | Nominated |
| 2018 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Dearbhla Molloy | Nominated |
| 2018 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Director | Sam Mendes | Won |
| 2018 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Set Design | Rob Howell | Nominated |
| 2018 | WhatsOnStage Award | Best New Play | Best New Play | Won |
| 2018 | WhatsOnStage Award | Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Fra Fee | Won |
| 2018 | WhatsOnStage Award | Best Director | Sam Mendes | Won |

### Original Broadway production

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2019 | Tony Award | Best Play | Best Play | Won |
| 2019 | Tony Award | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play | Paddy Considine | Nominated |
| 2019 | Tony Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play | Laura Donnelly | Nominated |
| 2019 | Tony Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play | Fionnula Flanagan | Nominated |
| 2019 | Tony Award | Best Direction of a Play | Sam Mendes | Won |
| 2019 | Tony Award | Best Scenic Design of a Play | Rob Howell | Won |
| 2019 | Tony Award | Best Costume Design of a Play | Rob Howell | Won |
| 2019 | Tony Award | Best Lighting Design of a Play | Peter Mumford | Nominated |
| 2019 | Tony Award | Best Sound Design of a Play | Nick Powell | Nominated |
| 2019 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Play | Outstanding Play | Won |
| 2019 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Tom Glynn-Carney | Won |
| 2019 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Director of a Play | Sam Mendes | Won |
| 2019 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Sound Design in a Play | Nick Powell | Won |
| 2019 | Drama League Award | Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play | Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play | Won |
| 2019 | Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Paddy Considine | Nominated |
| 2019 | New York Drama Critics' Circle Award | Best Play | Jez Butterworth | Won |
| 2019 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Won |
| 2019 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Fionnula Flanagan | Nominated |
| 2019 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Director of a Play | Sam Mendes | Won |
| 2019 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Scenic Design (Play or Musical) | Rob Howell | Nominated |
| 2019 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) | Rob Howell | Nominated |
| 2019 | Theatre World Award | Theatre World Award | Paddy Considine | Honouree |
| 2019 | Theatre World Award | Theatre World Award | Tom Glynn-Carney | Honouree |