Conor McPherson's The Seafarer to Be Staged at Putney Arts Theatre

---

New production marks the 20th anniversary of the play

The show promises a gripping blend of dark humour, haunting storytelling

January 20, 2026

Putney Theatre Company will mark the 20th anniversary of Conor McPherson’s acclaimed supernatural drama The Seafarer with a new production running from 17–21 February at Putney Arts Theatre.

Directed by Ian Higham and presented by arrangement with Nick Hern Books, the show promises a gripping blend of dark humour, haunting storytelling, and the raw humanity that has made McPherson one of Ireland’s most celebrated playwrights.

Named in The Stage 100 for 2026, McPherson is widely regarded as one of the greatest contemporary dramatists, known for The Weir, The Brightening Air, Shining City, and the Olivier Award-winning Girl from the North Country. The Weir, starring Brendan Gleeson was staged in the West End at the end of last year and earlier Chris O’Dowd featured in a production of The Brightening Air. Girl from the North Country also had an extended run at the Old Vic.

The Seafarer, first staged at the National Theatre in 2006, remains one of his most atmospheric works — a whiskey-soaked tale of family, friendship, and the possibility of redemption, set against the backdrop of a fateful Christmas Eve in Dublin.

Director Ian Higham says he is thrilled to bring the play to local audiences. “Conor McPherson is a born yarn-spinner and this exceptionally talented cast bring the characters viscerally to life, resulting in a truly unforgettable theatrical experience.”

Higham’s recent productions for Putney Theatre Company — including Great Expectations, Flare Path, and Killology — have earned consistently strong reviews for their emotional depth, attention to detail, and strong ensemble performances.

Event details

The Seafarer
By Conor McPherson
Directed by Ian Higham
17–21 February (including a matinee on 21 February)
Putney Arts Theatre, Ravenna Road, SW15 6AW
Evening performances: 7.45pm
Matinee: 3pm
Tickets: £18 / £16 concessions
Book online or call the Box Office on 020 8788 6943

Putney Theatre Company (PTC), the resident company at Putney Arts Theatre, has built a reputation as one of the most ambitious and accomplished community theatre groups in London. Known for staging a wide range of contemporary drama, classics, new writing, and large-scale ensemble pieces, PTC draws performers, directors, and creatives from across south-west London.

Despite being volunteer-run, the company is recognised for delivering productions with professional standards — a hallmark that has earned it critical praise and a loyal local following. Its home, Putney Arts Theatre, is a vibrant cultural hub housed in a converted Victorian church on Ravenna Road, offering an intimate space where audiences can experience theatre up close.

Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month . If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute . If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT . All payments are made through a secure web site.