The Ferryman by Jez Butterworth

The Ferryman at ADC

Northern Ireland, August 1981. As the Carney family celebrate bringing in the harvest, with songs, dancing and boisterous good humour, the shadow of one of them, who ‘disappeared’ ten years previously, still hangs over the feasting. Based on the story of one family, The Ferryman brings to life the experiences of many families in Northern Ireland whose loved one “disappeared” during the Troubles of the 1970s and 80s.

Some of them never found out what had happened, and for those who did, the knowledge didn’t always bring resolution. Sometimes, it brought more questions as they sought to undo the silences and evasions of the intervening years.

‘A rich, serious, deeply involving play about the shadows of the past and the power of silent love.’

The Guardian