Rare Revival
A Co-Production with The Mint Theater
Wife to James Whelan
BY TERESA DEEVY
DIRECTED BY JONATHAN BANK.
25 June -
25 July 2026
25 July 2026
Overview
“You won’t know me when I come back”
1937, a small Irish town. Nan Bowers and her friends are waiting to hear which local lad has won a life-changing job in Dublin. James Whelan shows up triumphant and ready to celebrate with his sweetheart, Nan, only to discover that she has plans of her own. Seven years later, James comes home, flush with success. His return will affect not only Nan but the whole town.
Teresa Deevy was at the height of her fame when the Abbey Theatre rejected Wife to James Whelan amid the growing conservative backlash of the 1940s. Now, in 2026, Mint Theater’s Jonathan Bank makes an overdue reintroduction to Ireland’s forgotten genius with this timeless ensemble play that pits love against pride.
People

Darragh Feehely
Bill McGafferty
Bill McGafferty
Darragh is an actor from Cork. He has worked with some of Ireland’s leading theatre companies such as the Abbey Theatre, ANU Productions, Druid Theatre and the Everyman Theatre in Cork.

Clíona Flynn
Nan Bowers
Nan Bowers
Clíona has just wrapped filming a recurring role on the new Irish television series, The Yank. She also was a part of the original cast of Mean Girls the Musical in the West End. Clíona trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Eavan Gaffney
Kate Moran
Kate Moran
Eavan has recently played Sonya in Uncle Vanya (Once Off Productions), Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire (Once Off Productions) and Regan in King Lear (The Gate, Dublin). She has worked on screen projects with Louise Lowe (Canaries, 2020) and Kate Dolan (Pillow Queens, Holy Show). In 2021 Eavan performed for President Higgins at Áras an Úachtaráin for Bloomsday 2021. She is a graduate of the Lir Academy.

Molly Hanly
Nora Keane
Nora Keane
Born and raised in Dublin, Molly Hanly made her stage debut as "Connie Millington" in Youth's The Season written by Mary Manning and directed by Sarah Jane Scaife at the Abbey Theatre. She graduated from Bristol Old Vic in 2024 after winning the Theatre Club Music Award in 2023. Molly went on to star in Eva Hudson's 855-For-Truth directed by Lydia McKinley at the Hope Theatre. Other credits include The Big Cranberry at the Jack Studio Theatre, and Rhubarb and Custard performed at both Bloomsbury and Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She recently made her screen debut in Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Fiach Kunz
James Whelan
James Whelan
Fiach is known for roles in TV shows including The Walsh Sisters (BBC, RTÉ) and Red Election (Mopar & Subotica), as well as appearances in Game of Thrones (HBO) and Foundation (Apple TV+). He has performed at venues including the Mill Theatre, The New Theatre, and Edinburgh Fringe. Fiach is originally from Co. Wicklow and is based between Ireland and London.

Patrick McBrearty
Tom Carey
Tom Carey
Patrick is an actor known for his roles in TV shows including Blue Lights (BBC), and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO). He has worked extensively in theatre including shows such as The White Handkerchief (Millenium Forum Derry), Richard III (Lyric Theatre Belfast) and Good With Faces (Project Arts Centre). His roles in film include Death from the Sea (Amalia and The Lost City of Z (Plan B).

David Rawle
Apollo Moran
Apollo Moran
David is an actor and writer known for roles in Moone Boy, Song of the Sea and Small Town, Big Story. He has performed at the Abbey, Gate and Gaiety theatre in Dublin among others. Wife to James Whelan is David’s first show at the Jermyn Street Theatre.

Benjamin Reilly
Jack McClinsey
Jack McClinsey
Benjamin is a graduate of The Gaiety School of Acting. He has performed in Ireland's leading theatres including The Abbey, The Cork Opera House, and Smock Alley Theatre amongst others. He appears in upcoming films Chasing Millions opposite Christopher Eccleston and The Surgeon opposite Michelle Yeoh. His original play Mortal Sin was selected by Culture Ireland for their Edinburgh Fringe Showcase and makes its UK debut at the festival this August.
Teresa Deevy
Writer
Writer
Jonathan Bank
Director
Director
Neil Irish
Set Designer
Set Designer
Anett Black
Costume Designer
Costume Designer
Chris McDonnell
Lighting Designer
Lighting Designer
Jane Shaw
Composer and Sound Designer
Composer and Sound Designer
Sarah Jones
Casting Director
Casting Director
Thomas J. Quine
Production Manager
Production Manager
Lisa Cochrane
Stage Manager
Stage Manager
Media
“Compelling”
The New York Times
“Deevy may be a genius”
The Observer on Teresa Deevy
“A student of Chekhov”
The Irish Times on Teresa Deevy
Tickets
25 June -
25 July 2026
25 July 2026
Monday, Wednesday to Saturday
7.30pm
Tuesday, Saturday
3.00pm
Running time: 135 minutes.

