Martin McDonagh’s A Skull in Connemara to be revived for 30th anniversary

Liverpool Everyman will stage a new production of Martin McDonagh’s 1997 play A Skull in Connemara, directed by Chris Sonnex.

A Skull in Connemara is set in rural County Galway, where Mick and Mairtin are employed to exhume bodies from a local graveyard to make space for new burials. As they carry out the annual task, rumours and secrets from the past begin to resurface.

The production will run from 20 February to 13 March 2027, with a press night on Thursday 25 February, marking the play’s 30th anniversary.

Sonnex returns to the venue following his 2024 production of McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore. He said today: “Coming back to the Everyman after the glorious comic book carnage of The Lieutenant of Inishmore is a complete honour, and I’m made up to be with Liverpool’s audiences again.

“A Skull in Connemara is a completely different beast; it’s a play about digging up the past because you need to make room for the future, only to discover that the past isn’t remotely finished with you. It still feels as relevant today as it did when first staged, a play about death, grief, revenge, and the ridiculous ways we try to live with all three.”

Nathan Powell, creative director of Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, added: “After the huge success of The Lieutenant of Inishmore, we’re excited to welcome back Chris Sonnex and another production that underscores our commitment to daring, thought-provoking and relevant work. Blending dark comedy and biting satire, Martin McDonagh’s brilliant play is sure to be a hugely entertaining and surprising night at the theatre.”

McDonagh’s other plays include The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Lonesome West, The Cripple of Inishmaan, The Pillowman, A Behanding in Spokane, Hangmen and A Very Very Very Dark Matter.

His films as writer and director include The Banshees of Inisherin, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Seven Psychopaths, In Bruges and the short film Six Shooter.

A captioned performance will take place on Thursday 25 February, while an audio-described performance is scheduled for Saturday 13 March. A BSL performance will also be announced.