The play "The Ferryman"

The Ferryman — in ancient Irish mythology, he is a psychopomp, a supernatural being who gathers the souls of the departed and escorts them to the afterlife. He is a Northern counterpart to the better-known Charon of antiquity, albeit far more ruthless.

It is no surprise then, that Jez Butterworth’s The Ferryman is centered around a gruesome discovery made by chance in a peat bog. The past, which former IRA fighter Quinn Carney has spent years trying to bury, returns to upend his life.

Having turned his back on the armed struggle, Quinn has become a farmer. When we first meet him, he is preparing for the harvest alongside his large, boisterous family: his wife, seven children, his brother’s widow and nephew, an ever-inebriated uncle, and unwed aunts...

A few years ago, Jez Butterworth's The Ferryman became a sensation, first in London’s West End and later on Broadway. It was subsequently honored as "Best Play" with the highest theatrical accolades in both the UK (Laurence Olivier Award) and the USA (Tony Award).

The acclaim is well-deserved. The author weaves an intricate plot as if navigating a high-speed slalom course—or rather, leading the audience through a breathtaking labyrinth of jealousy and revenge, love and mysticism, horror and tenderness.

The play is also laced with sharp, biting humor and a soundtrack curated by the playwright himself, blending haunting folk songs with rock hits of the 1960s and 70s. Moreover, given the parallels in our historical circumstances, the Ukrainian audience perceives the inhabitants of the "Emerald Isle" almost as kin.

Regrettably, this story remains profoundly relevant…