Running from 20 May to 7 June 2025, Derry Boys is a fiercely relevant new play coming to Theatre503 in London. Written by emerging Irish talent Niall McCarthy and directed by Andy McLeod, it tells a gripping story of friendship, identity, and survival shaped by the aftermath of conflict. Here’s why it’s one to watch.

1. It’s a coming-of-age story with serious bite

Derry Boys follows Paddy and Mick, childhood friends from post-Troubles Derry, who are reunited as adults in London. What begins as a story of friendship soon becomes a powerful examination of how lives are shaped by class, politics, and the past. It’s sharply written, darkly funny, and painfully human.

2. Born from Theatre503’s talent incubator

The play was developed through Theatre503’s Rapid Write Response programme and now returns as a fully staged production. Director Andy McLeod, known for his award-winning short films and devised theatre work, brings raw energy and emotional depth to the story. This is the kind of bold, new writing Theatre503 is known for championing.

3. A cast that brings real weight to the stage

Eoin Sweeney plays Paddy, reuniting with Matthew Blaney as Mick—this marks their fourth collaboration and the chemistry shows. Catherine Rees joins them as Aoife, bringing stage and screen experience that grounds the production in authenticity. All three deliver performances that feel lived-in and emotionally layered.

4. It speaks to our current moment

While firmly rooted in Northern Ireland’s recent history, the themes of Derry Boys—identity, masculinity, disillusionment—resonate far beyond its setting. In a world still marked by division and generational trauma, it asks urgent questions about who we become when we inherit conflict.

5. You’ll want to say you saw it first

With tickets starting at just £12, and staged in the intimate setting of Theatre503, Derry Boys is exactly the kind of fresh, ambitious theatre that sparks conversation. Press night is 27 May. Don’t wait for the reviews—see it before everyone’s talking about it.

Tickets available via theatre503.com
Venue: Theatre503, 503 Battersea Park Road, London SW11 3BW
Dates: 20 May – 7 June 2025