About the Show

Chris O’Dowd stars in Conor McPherson’s haunting new family drama set in 1980s Ireland.

In a crumbling farmhouse in rural 1980s Ireland, siblings Stephen and Billie are getting by—just about. Their days are filled with routine, memory, and quiet resilience. But when long-estranged family members arrive, bringing secrets, desperation, and questionable motives, the delicate balance of their lives begins to shift. What unfolds is a darkly lyrical story of inheritance, superstition, and the lingering grip of the past.

This production marks the world premiere of The Brightening Air from Olivier Award-winning playwright and director Conor McPherson (Girl from the North Country), one of Ireland’s greatest living dramatists. This rich, atmospheric tale explores the tension between the sacred and the profane, and the power of place to hold memory—and magic.

The cast includes Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, The IT Crowd) as the wayward Dermot, alongside Brian Gleeson (The Crucible), Rosie Sheehy (Romeo and Julie), Seán McGinley (Braveheart), and Hannah Morrish (The Merchant of Venice 1936). Winner of the Edgerton Foundation New Play Award, The Brightening Air premieres at the Old Vic for a limited run.

Critic Reviews (10)

"It doesn’t quite make the impact McPherson might have hoped for then, but the play is still brimming with more fantasy and good fun than most. And for the true brilliance of each actor, this is a play worth a few hours of your time."
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"Sheehy’s transformative, vanity and cliche-free turn here underscores how damn good she is and hopefully permanently elevates her to leading-actor status."
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"It’s a frustrating play, always watchable, so nearly great, so nearly soaring, yet somehow held earthbound by the weight of its intent."
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"McPherson himself skillfully directs a splendid ensemble from which two names have to be singled out."
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"The real magic here comes from the beautifully woven speeches McPherson gives his characters as they rebel against tedium, death, and the heavens."
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" It’s sharp, it’s tender, its every deft exchange is handled exquisitely by a cast led by Rosie Sheehy, Chris O’Dowd and Brian Gleeson. I enjoyed it very much."
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"An incredibly strong cast is gathered: O’Dowd is a delight as the family’s self-regarding eldest brother and Sheehy, as always, is a standout force."
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