The Pillowman Tickets

Would you like to see Lily Allen and Steve Pemberton live on stage? Have you heard great things about The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh? This fabulous play is being staged at the Duke of York's theatre, and it has already got the critics talking. Don't miss your chance to see a classic for our times, dark and disturbingly funny.

What's the plot?

McDonagh's extraordinary Olivier Award winning play originally premiered at the National Theatre in 2003, starring David Tennant. That was the only time it has appeared in the UK... until now. The story is about a writer, Katurian, who is questioned by the authorities about a series of child murders that are horribly similar to the series of short stories he's written.

When Katurian's brother Michal confesses to the crimes Katurian does everything in his power to protect his stories. The resulting plot is a powerful and completely unique psychological thriller with a comic edge, and it'll have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

As the playwright McDonagh himself said about this fantastic piece of work, “The Pillowman is a play that's always been very close to my heart, in terms of its combination of the darkest of dark comedy with its exploration of the nature of story-telling itself. It's a play that I haven't wanted to have staged in London until I could find the perfect director and the ideal cast for it, and having worked with Matthew previously on Hangmen, and been an admirer of Steve and Aaron's work for many years, I feel it's the perfect time to find out what a whole new generation makes of this peculiar tale."

The creative team

The set and costume design comes from Anna Fleischle. The sound design is by Ian Dickinson and the director is Matthew Dunster, whose work on Hangmen, and A Very Very Very Dark Matter delighted us so much. Produced by Empire Street Productions, it stars Taylor-Johnson as Katurian and Steve Pemberton – known and loved for The League of Gentlemen and Benidorm - as Tupolski. The casting is by Amy Ballfur.

About the playwright

Martin McDonagh's work includes the Academy Award-winning movie Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and The Aran Islands trilogy. Daniel Radcliffe's role in the magical play The Cripple of Inishmaan, one play from the trilogy, won him a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor in a Play.

Who is this show for?

This is a clever black comedy widely seen as one of the greatest plays of the past 25 years. It explores the complex themes of the role of the artist in society and the price we pay for freedom of expression. As such it's probably best for people aged 14 and above.