Further West End cast set for The Pillowman with Lily Allen and Steve Pemberton 

The West End premiere of Martin McDonagh’s acclaimed play, The Pillowman, has announced further casting.

The Pillowman, which won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2004, tells the story of a writer, Katurian, who is interrogated by police about the content of her short stories, which bear similarities to a spate of local murders.

Set to join WhatsOnStage Award-winner Lily Allen, who will take on the role of Katurian (in a first for the role to be played by a woman) and Steve Pemberton’s Tupolski will be Paul Kaye and Matthew Tennyson. Kaye will play Ariel, and Tennyson will take on the role of Michal.

Kaye is best known for his extensive work on television, including appearances on Game of Thrones, Afterlife, and The Third Day. On stage, he originated the role of Mr Wormwood in Matilda The Musical for the RSC, earning an Olivier nomination for his performance. Tennyson, on the other hand, has film credits including Benediction and Pride, and his stage work includes A Monster Calls at the Old Vic and Cleansed for the National Theatre.

The Pillowman’s West End premiere will be directed by Matthew Dunster. Further casting announcements are expected to follow.

The production will run at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre from June 10 to September 2, 2023, with a press night scheduled for June 21.

McDonagh is one of the most celebrated contemporary playwrights, with other works including The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Banshees of Inisherin and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Anna Fleischle is responsible for the set and costume design, Neil Austin for the lighting design, Ian Dickinson for Autograph for sound design, and Amy Ball for the casting.