Galway Riders to the Sea / Macbeth double bill The Mick Lally Theatre 10 - 26 July 2025
‘They're all gone now, and there isn't anything more the sea can do to me’
On the Aran Islands, off the coast of Galway, a woman contends with God and the sea for the survival of her family.
J. M. Synge concentrates the lyricism of the West of Ireland and the majesty of the Atlantic Ocean into a short one-act of pure theatre.
20 years on from the formative DruidSynge (2005), Tony Award winners Garry Hynes and Marie Mullen return to the work of one of Ireland’s greatest playwrights for this new production of Riders to the Sea. Further casting to be announced.
Synge’s miniature masterpiece is a swirling tour de force of Celtic paganism, the earthly struggles of life, and the desperate stretch of humanity towards the heavens.
Together in a double bill with a new production of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Riders to the Sea forms the centrepiece of Druid’s 50th anniversary season in 2025, celebrating five decades of the world-renowned Galway theatre company, which was founded in 1975 by Garry Hynes, Marie Mullen and the late Mick Lally.
Proudly presented as part of Galway International Arts Festival 2025.
Read more about Druid's 50th anniversary season.
To celebrate our 50th anniversary in July 2025, we will present Riders to the Sea and Macbeth in a special double bill.
Double bill tickets are currently sold out but you can join the online waiting list in case extra tickets become available.
Individual tickets for either production will not be available, all tickets will be for the double bill only.
The company for our Riders to the Sea and Macbeth double bill includes two actors making their Druid stage debuts* and three recipients of the Marie Mullen Bursary^.
Cast
Caitríona Ennis
Emmet Farrell*
Liam Heslin
Seán Kearns
Garrett Lombard
Pattie Maguire*
Marie Mullen
Rory Nolan
Rachel O’Byrne
Marty Rea
Cathal Ryan
Creative Team
Director: Garry Hynes
Set and Co-Costume Design: Francis O'Connor
Co-Costume Design: Clíodhna Hallissey^
Lighting Design: Colin Grenfell
Sound Design: Gregory Clarke
Movement Director: David Bolger
Composer: Conor Linehan
Casting Director: Amy Rowan
Hair Design: Siobhán Patterson
Make-Up Design: Michelle Ruane
Associate Director: Sarah Baxter^
Assistant Director: Lianne O’Shea^
DOUBLE BILL
The estimated running time of Riders to the Sea is 25 minutes. There will then be a 30-minute break followed by Macbeth which is estimated to run at approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes (interval TBC).
Please note that Riders to the Sea features depictions of death by drowning including a dead body. The production also features some smoke effects. Suitable for ages 12+.
If you have an accessibility request, please let us know in the comments box during the online box office check-out process.
Alternatively, please email info@druid.ie or telephone our office +353 91 568660.
Dates & Tickets
one of the greatest achievements in the history of Irish theatre
The Irish Times on DruidSynge
a highlight not just of my theatre-going year but of my theatre-going life
The New York Times on DruidSynge
beautifully executed
Variety on DruidSynge