The highly anticipated world premiere of The Brightening Air is the newest masterpiece from four-time Olivier Award-winning Irish playwright and director Conor McPherson and his first original play since The Night Alive in 2013.
This extraordinary play tells the story of a dysfunctional family living in rural Ireland in the 1980s, following the lives of brother and sister Stephen (Brian Gleeson) and Billie (Rosie Sheehy) at their decaying family farmhouse in County Sligo. Their ordinary lives are quickly turned upside down when their troublesome brother (Chris O’Dowd), ex-clergyman uncle (Sean McGinley) and sister-in-law (Hannah Morrish) arrive on the scene, armed with a cunning plan and in search of a miracle.
The production highlights the central role a family home plays in shaping lives – far more than just a building, it can often be a place of refuge, magic or burden. Essentially The Brightening Air is a bittersweet drama about a family finally disintegrating under forces that have been pulling at it for decades. Hilarious at times and achingly moving, It is a production that envelops you in the warmth and melancholy of rural Ireland, delivering a family drama with elements of mysticism and the supernatural, that is as evocative as it is quietly magical.
The acting is fantastic across the cast, from O’Dowd’s disdainful Dermot and Gleeson’s despondent Stephen to Morrish’s worn-down Lydia and Sheehy’s tragic Billie who is outspoken, raw, and brutally honest. The chemistry between Gleeson and Sheehy who lead the cast as siblings Stephen and Billie is superb and the arrival of Chris O’Dowd’s Dermot is spectacular, bringing a mischievous energy and a touch of unpredictability. Hannah Morrish gives a heartbreakingly beautiful performance as Lydia, while Derbhle Crotty delights as Elizabeth, the housekeeper of Uncle Pierre (Seán McGinley), a former priest with big plans.
There are moments in the play when the pace slows, particularly in the first act, but the emotional payoff in the final scenes is more than worth the wait. There’s live piano music and bhangra on the soundtrack, and many laugh out loud moments. But there’s also an unpredictability to it all that makes it feel like a story carried on a breeze, with the audience being swept along for the ride. It is is a masterful blend of heart and magic, brought to life by an exceptional cast and McPherson’s direction. It’s a journey that leaves audiences enchanted and deeply moved.
The Brightening Air is currently playing at The Old Vic until 14 June 2025
Details
- Address:
- The Old Vic
- SE1 8NB
- Transport:
- Waterloo is the closest train and tube station. Local bus routes include 1, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 68, N1, N171 and N68.