National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World

About the event

National Theatre Live 2026

The Playboy of the Western World

By John Millington Synge

Directed by Caitríona McLaughlin

Certificate 12A

Running time 157mins

Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) joins Éanna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment) and Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls) in John Millington Synge’s riveting play of youth and self-discovery.

Pegeen Flaherty’s life is turned upside down when a young man walks into her pub claiming that he’s killed his father. Instead of being shunned, the killer becomes a local hero and begins to win hearts, that is until a second man unexpectedly arrives on the scene…

Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre, Caitríona McLaughlin directs this darkly funny tale full to the brim with secrets.

Please note that this screening will be captioned.

Please also note that this production contains strobe lighting, which may impact customers with photosensitive epilepsy.

Subject to availability, card payments only can be taken on the door.

Our NT Live screenings are a collaboration between LU Arts and Flix, student-run cinema. Flix run the screenings on the night on our behalf.

Exchanges and refunds

Tickets for our NT Live screenings are non-refundable unless the screening is postponed or cancelled.

Parking

Please note that visitors are required to register their vehicle and pay to park on campus. There is a flat evening rate of £1 after 6pm. There are various ways in which you can register and pay (both in advance and on arrival). Parking outside Cope Auditorium is not available to non-permit holders prior to 6pm.

More information on visitor parking

Kiosk

The kiosk in the foyer will be open before the screening starts and during the interval, serving hot and cold drinks and snacks (card payment only).

Accessibility

The Cope Auditorium has step free access and there is an accessible toilet in the main foyer. The auditorium has wheelchair user spaces in the flat floor seating area and is fitted with an induction (hearing) loop. Wheelchair users may bring a carer with them at no extra cost – please select a wheelchair ticket and a wheelchair carer ticket. A wheelchair carer ticket will not be valid on its own.

This screening will be captioned.

If you have any access requirements or anything you would like us to be aware of when running the event, please let us know via the booking form or email LU.Arts@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk in advance of booking and we will do our best to accommodate them.

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