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National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World poster
IMDb20262h 37mUnited Kingdom

National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World

“At the edge of the earth, you could be anyone.”

Synopsis

Pegeen Flaherty’s life is turned upside down when a young man walks into her pub claiming that he’s killed his father. Instead of being shunned, the killer becomes a local hero and begins to win hearts, that is until a second man unexpectedly arrives on the scene...

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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.

The Playboy of the Western World | Audience Reactions | National TheatreOfficial

Type: Trailer • Published 2025-12-16

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Caitriona McLaughlin
Screenplay & Story
John Millington Synge
Original Score
Anna Mullarkey
Original Title
National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
2h 37m
Production Studios
National Theatre

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Caitriona McLaughlin

Screenplay & Story

John Millington Synge

Original Score & Music

Anna Mullarkey

Department Leadership Roster

Caitriona McLaughlin

Caitriona McLaughlin

Director

John Millington Synge

John Millington Synge

Writer

Anna Mullarkey

Anna Mullarkey

Original Music Composer

Official cinematic photography and background stills for National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World.

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National Theatre Live

All productions released by National Theatre Live, UK – either done directly by the Royal National Theatre or other UK venues/producers. [**NationalTheatre.org.uk**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk) / [**NTLive.com**](https://www.ntlive.com) / [**NTatHome.com**](https://www.ntathome.com) (for its US equivalent, see [**BroadwayHD**](https://www.tmdb.org/company/103196-broadwayhd) and site [**BroadwayHD.com**](https://www.broadwayhd.com).) Some productions were filmed _solely_ for their paid streaming channel "National Theatre at Home", and were branded without the "National Theatre Live" posters which those that also screened in cinemas typically got posters with. (plus: There was a 2009 BBC TV series entry titled "National Theatre Live" with the first five filmed productions that featured additional commentary, at #280519, but this was deleted by a mod!) ______________________________________________________________________ • **2024.05.09.Thu: Plays 1-100** - [**nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25) _"National Theatre Live broadcast its 100th title, Nye, live from the Olivier stage. Now buckle up as we’re going to take you on a journey through all 100 NT Lives (you heard that right). From our first to our most recent, join us to recount all the incredible plays that have made it from the stage to the screen – with some fun facts thrown in for good measure!"_ ______________________________________________________________________ **What is National Theatre Live (NTL) & National Theatre at Home (NTaH)?** ([**Wikipedia**](https://w.wiki/9grq)) National Theatre Live is an initiative from the National Theatre (formerly "Royal National Theatre") in London, who record their own plays (and also may do/did some live broadcasts to cinemas too) and other non-National Theatre productions from selected indie/West-End theatre plays in London and beyond in the UK (eg. Chichester, et al.). Unless it's a live cinema viewing, typically once the live theatre run has ended these are then shown in cinemas. NTL cinema audiences are able to view play recordings at cinema screenings in the UK and globally (eg. Australia, Taiwan, et al.), with cinema releases either concurrently (or after an initial cinema release) also released on their paid streaming service National Theatre at Home. NTaH launched in 2020 offering access to over 100 productions, with new titles added monthly. All titles include captions, over 90% available with Audio Description, and a selection available in British Sign Language (BSL). Reaching theatre audiences globally, streaming to over 184 countries, a majority of audiences having never visited the National Theatre's South Bank home, and is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. 2026 research showed 99% of NTaH's audiences are outside London, with over 60% saying filmed theatre options support wider discoverability and increased overall theatre experiences.

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Frequently Asked Questions About National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World about?

Pegeen Flaherty’s life is turned upside down when a young man walks into her pub claiming that he’s killed his father. Instead of being shunned, the killer becomes a local hero and begins to win hearts, that is until a second man unexpectedly arrives on the scene...

Who directed National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World?

National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World was directed by Caitriona McLaughlin.

Who stars in National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World?

The principal cast of National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World includes Nicola Coughlan, Éanna Hardwicke, Siobhán McSweeney, Declan Conlon, Lorcan Cranitch.

When was National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World released and how long is it?

National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World was released in 2026 with a total runtime of 2h 37m.

Who composed the musical score for National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World?

The original motion picture soundtrack for National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World was composed by Anna Mullarkey.