A black-and-white photograph of a large wave.

Design by Gareth Jones.

Riders to the Sea

By J. M. Synge
Directed by Garry Hynes

‘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.

Tickets on sale Friday 9 May at 10am

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.

Tickets for the double bill go on sale Friday 9 May at 10am.

Individual tickets for either production will not be available, all tickets will be for the double bill only.

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. Suitable for ages 12+.

There will be a post-show discussion following the 7pm double bill performance on Monday 21 July at The Mick Lally Theatre. Further details to be announced.

On Sale Fri 9 May 10am

Galway Riders to the Sea / Macbeth double bill The Mick Lally Theatre 10 - 26 July 2025

On Sale Soon

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