Chris O'Dowd to star in McPherson's new play in Dublin

Irish actor Chris O'Dowd is set to star in Conor McPherson's new play, "The Brightening Air," which will have its Irish premiere at the Gate Theatre in Dublin. The production, directed by McPherson himself, previously played at London's Old Vic, featuring O'Dowd in the cast.

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The story takes place "up around Sligo, that kind of area, and it's set in a house out in the countryside" and tells the story of "a brother and sister who are adults living together in this place where they grew up, and they're mucking along there".

The play is set in a rural homestead in Ireland during the 1980s, specifically in the Sligo region. It centers on adult siblings, Billie and Stephen, who live together in their childhood home. Their quiet existence is disrupted by the arrival of their uncle, an excommunicated priest seeking refuge, and O'Dowd's character, Dermot, Stephen's estranged brother, who also arrives and becomes entangled in the unfolding events.

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The siblings at the heart of the story "don't have a lot of money, there's not a lot going on, and then their uncle arrives, who is an excommunicated priest, who's essentially looking for somewhere to be, and things start to get stirred up when their brother, played by Chris O'Dowd, also arrives to try and get involved in this whole mess".

McPherson describes "The Brightening Air" as a "haunting new play about longing, magic and the fates that tear us apart." The narrative delves into the complex relationships within the family, exploring themes of hidden forces and devastating consequences as the characters' lives intersect. O'Dowd, portraying Dermot, characterizes his role as a "complete blackguard" and shared his excitement about performing for a home audience, noting the unique energy exchange between actors and the public.

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A haunting new play about longing, magic and the fates that tear us apart.

O'Dowd expressed his admiration for McPherson's work, stating that he and McPherson came through University College Dublin in different generations, and McPherson's early plays were influential during O'Dowd's formative acting years. Derbhle Crotty, who plays Elizabeth in the production, highlighted the "joy" of being part of the ensemble cast and described the play as a rich tapestry of characters facing life crises, complex relationships, and a sense of the supernatural.

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It's much more craic, because you have that initial beautiful moment with an audience every day of the week where you come in and show this whole story that somebody else has created for you and that is wonderful.