Shining City

Rapture Blog

Shining City

Rapture Theatre in association with The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh
Presents
Shining City by Conor McPherson

Rapture Theatre is delighted to announce its latest touring production, the Scottish Premiere of Shining City, by Irish playwright Conor McPherson.

About The Play

The Emerald Isle meets The Sixth Sense in this riveting and chilling urban ghost story from the multi-award winning author of The Weir, Dublin Carol and The Seafarer.
After leaving the priesthood, Ian sets himself up as a therapist in Dublin. One of his first clients is John who, following the tragic death of his wife in a car accident, has repeatedly seen her ghostly figure. But surely it must be his imagination?!!!!!

Through taut and witty Irish banter, hidden demons begin to surface as Ian starts to realise that his life parallels John’s in many ways, and that the "ghosts" of his past may yet come back to haunt him too.

Described by The Daily Telegraph as "the finest dramatist of his generation", Conor McPherson flawlessly brings classical Irish storytelling into a modern, urban landscape. This humorous, haunting and fascinating play will have you gripped right up to the shocking twist in the tale. Shining City has previously played to sell-out audiences in London, Dublin and on Broadway.

"Moving, compassionate, ingenious and absolutely gripping... scenes that provoke great,
generous gales of laughter, others that send a shiver of fear down the spine" - The Daily Telegraph
"I was blown away by Shining City" - The New York Times

The Cast

For this production, Rapture has brought together a strong and extremely talented Irish cast. Breathing life into John is the critically acclaimed Michael Glenn Murphy who performed in the National Theatre of Scotland's awarding winning Molly Sweeney. Taking on the role of troubled Ian is Rory Murray. RSAMD trained Melanie MacHugh, who has recently finished a run at the National Theatre, London, will play Neasa, and finally, fellow RSAMD graduate, David Walshe appears as Laurence. Shining City marks each actor's debut with Rapture Theatre.

Of the production Director Michael Emans said: "Growing up with an Irish mother, I was only too aware of the Irish as wonderful story tellers. It is partly a desire to be a storyteller myself that led me into theatre and directing in the first place. Therefore, I knew at one point that I would revisit those moments and direct an Irish play for Rapture. McPherson's writing and, in particular, this play are classic examples of this type of Irish storytelling at its best. I am also excited about my all-Irish cast and about introducing these actors to our audiences across Scotland".