The Cripple of Inishmaan

Written by by Martin McDonagh, The Cripple of Inishmaan will be at Progress Theatre, Reading, RG1 5HL Friday 2nd May 2025 – Saturday 10th May 2025 

“Ireland can’t be that bad if the Yanks want to come here to film.” 

Set in 1934 on the small island of Inishmaan, this darkly comic tale follows Billy Clavan, a disabled orphan living with his adoptive aunts. Life on the island is full of eccentricities—where villagers break eggs on priests, throw bricks at cows, and gossip about sheep with no ears in exchange for eggs. Billy, dreaming of escape, sees an opportunity when a Hollywood film crew arrives on a nearby island to film The Man of Aran. To seize his chance, he just needs to convince Babbybobby to row him across. 

Written by the Oscar-winning playwright of In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and The Banshees of Inisherin, this production is a captivating blend of dark humor and emotional depth. 

Please note that the performance on Tuesday 6th May will be a Relaxed Performance, designed to offer a more inclusive experience. Additionally, some themes in the play may be distressing to certain audiences. A full list of content warnings is available.