David Ireland’s acclaimed new play The Fifth Step will transfer to London’s West End for a strictly limited season from 10 May until 26 July 2025 @sohoplace.
Originally performed as part of the Edinburgh International Festival 2024, this NTS production has been further developed for this West End premiere and the new opportunities for restaging that @sohoplace offers.
Who is in the cast of The Fifth Step?
Jack Lowden reprises his performance as Luka and Martin Freeman will play the role of James in David Ireland’s funny and unflinchingly honest drama about addiction, masculinity and faith.
Who is in the creative team?
Directed by Finn den Hertog
Set and Costume Design by Milla Clarke
Lighting Design by Lizzie Powell
Sound Design by Mark Melville
Movement by Jenny Ogilvie
David Ireland was born in Belfast and trained as an actor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. His first play, What the Animals Say, was produced at Oran Mor, Glasgow in 2011. He was Playwright-in-Residence at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast in 2012. He went on to win the Meyer Whitworth Award in 2012 for his second play, Everything Between Us, produced by Tinderbox Theatre Company in Belfast.
His other plays include Not Now (Oran Mor), Sadie (Lyric, Belfast) Yes So I Said Yes (Ransom Productions, Belfast), The End of Hope (Oran Mor) and Can’t Forget About You (Lyric, Belfast). His TV series, The Lovers, was broadcast on Sky Atlantic in 2023. His latest TV series, Cold Water, featuring Andrew Lincoln, is currently in post-production and will be broadcast on ITV later this year. As an actor, he is best known for playing Clare’s Dad in Derry Girls.
What is The Fifth Step about?
Step 1: honesty.
Step 2: faith.
Step 3: surrender.
Step 4: self-examination.
After many years in the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, James agrees to become the sponsor of newcomer Luka.
On the journey to sobriety, the pair bond over black coffee, trade stories, and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences.
On the cusp of Step 5, their conversations must turn to confessionals, with progress hinging on Luka revealing secrets that could lead back to alcohol. But it’s clear that James also has dangerous truths in his past, truths that threaten the trust on which both their recoveries depend.
Are there any accessible performances scheduled?
TBC
