Right, theatre lovers — clear your diary and iron your best frock, because Dancing at Lughnasa is about to sweep into Sheffield and Manchester, and it’s got more talent packed in than my satchel after a press night.
Sheffield Theatres and the Royal Exchange Theatre have just spilled the full beans — cast, creatives, the lot — for Brian Friel’s multi-award-winning heartbreaker. And get this… it’s the very first production directed by Sheffield Theatres’ incoming Artistic Director, Elizabeth Newman. That’s right, she’s kicking things off with a big one!
Creative Dream Team
- Director: Elizabeth Newman
- Designer: Francis O’Connor
- Movement Director: Sundeep Saini
- Lighting Designer: Chris Davey
- Composer & Sound Designer: Pippa Murphy
- Casting Director: Arthur Carrington
- Associate Director: Amanda Collins
- Birkbeck Assistant Director: Sadie Mears
- Fight Director: Kaitlin Howard
- Associate Lighting Designer: Mark Distin Webster
Dates for your diary:
- Crucible Theatre, Sheffield: Sat 13 Sep – Sat 4 Oct 2025 (Press night: Thu 18 Sep, 7pm)
- Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester: Fri 10 Oct – Sat 8 Nov 2025 (Press night: Wed 15 Oct, 7.30pm)
Meet the Cast
Martha Dunlea (Making History) is our Christina, Kwaku Fortune (Hidden Assets) as Michael, Frank Laverty (A Whistle in the Dark) as Jack, Rachel O’Connell (Iphigenia In Splott) as Rose, Siobhán O’Kelly (The Beauty Queen of Leenane) as Margaret, Laura Pyper (A View from the Bridge) as Agnes, Natalie Radmall-Quirke (Birdsong) as Kate, and Marcus Rutherford (Wheel of Time) as Gerry. Rosemary Boyle (The James Plays) and Richard Galloway (Life and Soul) are swings.
Nice little reunion fact for you — Laura Pyper is back at the Crucible after Death and the King’s Horseman and The Crucible, Rosemary Boyle returns after The James Plays, and Frank Laverty’s gracing Manchester again after A Whistle in the Dark and The Colleen Bawn. Everyone else? Making their Sheffield and Royal Exchange debuts.
“I want to dance, Kate. It’s the festival of Lughnasa. I’m only thirty-five. I want to dance.”
Set on the outskirts of Ballybeg, County Donegal, the five Mundy sisters are living a life of duty and routine — until the wider world starts knocking at their door. What follows is a gorgeous, aching swirl of change, memory, and moments you can’t get back once they’ve gone.
Rosemary Boyle (Swing)
Guildhall-trained, Rosemary’s theatre work includes The James Plays (Sheffield Theatres/National Theatre Scotland), Hay Fever and Of Mice and Men. TV credits include Father Brown, Miss Scarlet and the Duke and EastEnders.
Martha Dunlea (Christina)
Cork-born Gaiety and CSSD graduate, Martha’s stage credits span Making History, Girlplay (Dublin & Edinburgh Fringe) and The Shaughraun. A screenwriter too, her debut short U home?x recently wrapped, with her screenplay Éalú in development for RTÉ Storyland.
Kwaku Fortune (Michael)
Fresh from Amelia at Dublin Theatre Festival, Kwaku’s TV credits include Normal People, Hidden Assets, Line of Duty and Redemption. He wrote and starred in The Black Wolfe Tone and was nominated for the 2024 Irish Film & Television Academy Rising Star Award.
Richard Galloway (Swing)
Bretton Hall-trained, Richard’s theatre includes Life and Soul, Home Truths and The Exonerated. Film credits include Black Daruma and The Tide.
Frank Laverty (Jack)
Gaiety-trained Frank’s extensive theatre work includes A Whistle in the Dark (Royal Exchange), The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Young Vic) and Playboy of the Western World (Old Vic). TV and film credits range from Hidden Assets and Bad Sisters to Michael Collins.
Rachel O’Connell (Rose)
RADA graduate Rachel has appeared in Iphigenia In Splott, Coppers the Musical and Romeo and Juliet. On screen she’s been seen in EastEnders and The Young Offenders.
Siobhán O’Kelly (Margaret)
Guildhall-trained, Siobhán’s stage credits include The Beauty Queen of Leenane and Of Mice and Men. Screen work includes Bad Sisters, How To Get To Heaven From Belfast and Call the Midwife. Winner of Best Actress at the European Independent Film Festival.
Laura Pyper (Agnes)
Returning to Sheffield after Death and the King’s Horseman, Laura’s theatre includes A View from the Bridge and Don Juan in Soho. TV and film work includes Father Brown, Luther, Hex and Isle of Dogs.
Natalie Radmall-Quirke (Kate)
Trained at Trinity College Dublin and LAMDA, Natalie’s stage credits include Birdsong, Equus and The Glass Menagerie. TV includes Say Nothing, Conversations with Friends and Striking Out.
Marcus Rutherford (Gerry)
Best known as Perrin Aybara in Amazon’s Wheel of Time, Marcus’s screen credits also include County Lines, Obey and Funny Woman.
How to get your mitts on tickets:
- Sheffield Theatres: Book in person, call 0114 249 6000, or visit sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
- Royal Exchange Theatre: Book in person, call 0161 833 9833, or visit royalexchange.co.uk
I’ll tell you now — this is one of those plays that’ll stay with you long after the lights go up. Don’t dawdle, darlings.
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