Eimhin Fitzgerald Doherty has quickly made an impression in the theatre world making his professional stage debut playing the role of Johnny Boyle in Juno and the Paycock alongside Mark Rylance and J. Smith-Cameron in the West End last year.
He’s now set to perform in Conor McPherson’s new play The Brightening Air at the Old Vic opposite Chris O’Dowd and Brian Gleeson. The play is McPherson’s first fully original work since 2013’s The Night Alive.
Ahead of opening we caught up with Fitzgerald Doherty to find out about his acting journey and how he’s approaching McPherson’s ‘transfixing’ new play.
Q&A with Eimhin Fitzgerald Doherty
How does it feel to be returning to the London stage after making your West End debut last year?
It’s overwhelmingly exciting. I have no right to be where I am right now at this point in my career. Agents, directors, writers, casting directors and actors have all given me huge opportunities and have supported me through this early stage of my career. It’s really comforting to know that there are people in this industry who are kind, generous and eager to help those of us who are trying to find our feet. This is (or should be) a collaborative industry and I’m learning that being able to put pride aside and ask for help is essential. I’m so grateful to all these people, and look forward to the day when I can do the same for others. I believe that all these overwhelming feelings of excitement I have about this play are so huge because it’s a shared elation, not just mine, and that’s beautiful.
What can you tell us about The Brightening Air and your role in the play?
On the surface, The Brightening Air presents itself as a solid standard family drama, but as the play unfolds its depths are really unfathomable. It follows the McFaddin family in rural Ireland in 1981 and I play Brendan Byrne – the neighbour next door who, for various reasons, spends a lot of time at the McFaddin household. The subtle supernatural feel of this play is truly magic in the sense that you can’t even be sure if it’s there. The play is ambiguous, mercurial and is like a knot that is always tightening. I find the text absolutely transfixing and this amazing cast is just bringing it off the page so beautifully.
How are you approaching Brendan as a character?
At the moment I’m just trying to make choices that make his journey more and more difficult. I feel that’s the key – I think, ‘how can I make this worse for myself’? The more tragic the better in my opinion, whether it’s comedy or drama. Nobody wants to go to theatre and see someone comfortably swan through a play. I want to see someone suffer, struggle and be challenged, regardless if it ends up okay for them in the end. Luckily, this incredible script does a lot of the work for me, but it’s immensely fun to search for deeper hopes and dreams, and place them just beyond Brendan’s reach.
What is it like to be working with Conor McPherson and a cast full of Irish acting talent to tell a very Irish story?
I’m simply in awe of everyone in the room all of the time. Conor has been really great at making us all feel so comfortable in the process of bringing his play to life. There’s no judgement or fear of getting things wrong and I really think it’s brought out the best in us all. It being an Irish story also gives the play a familiarity that really solidifies that comfort in the room. I’m watching the best at what they do, feeling confident to do what they do best. That feels like a special thing to witness.
How do you think audiences will react to the play?
I really hope audiences are moved by this play. It’s not your standard plot-punching play, but Conor has really mastered writing atmosphere. His words come off the page and change the temperature of room, often slowing everything down (which is much needed in this city). I’d compare it with watching a sunset – a short yet unhurried moment of vibrant colours that you can watch and be moved by, but never truly comprehend.
The Brightening Air is at the Old Vic from 10 April to 14 June 2025
