Starring Stephen Rea and directed by Vicky Featherstone, the film version of the award-winning Cyprus Avenue by David Ireland mixed live capture of performance from the iconic Royal Court Theatre stage production with location shooting in Belfast. It was broadcast on BBC Four in 2019 and streamed via our website for two months from 27 March 2020.
Eric Miller (Stephen Rea) is a Belfast Loyalist. He is experiencing a psychotic episode and mistakes his five-week old granddaughter for Gerry Adams. Generations of sectarian trauma convince him that his cultural heritage is under siege. He must act.
This hard hitting black comedy Cyprus Avenue tells the story of a man struggling with the past and terrified of the future. It was awarded Best New Play at the Irish Times Theatre Awards and the James Tait Black Prize for Drama in 2017. For his portrayal of Eric, Stephen Rea won Best Actor at the Irish Times Theatre Awards 2017.
The film adaptation was commissioned by The Space and produced for BBC Four by the Royal Court Theatre. It was Executive Produced by Lucy Davies, Jane Featherstone, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson.
Content Warning: Cyprus Avenue contains strong language, discussion of sectarian themes and scenes of extreme violence that some viewers may find disturbing.
“David Ireland’s shocking new play balances humour and horror, with Stephen Rea superb”
Susannah Clapp, Observer
"Mr. Rea is astonishing, in one of the defining performances of his career."
Ben Brantley, New York Times
"A bruising play, touched by brilliance."
Fergus Morgan, Time Out
“Stephen Rea is riveting”
Michael Billington, The Guardian
“Lingers in the mind long after its final act. Sharp and engaging.... Unmissable.”
Peter Crawley l The Irish Times
'Compulsive viewing.'
Dominic Cavendish l The Daily Telegraph
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