Darragh Feehely stars in Teresa Deevy’s Wife to James Whelan at Jermyn Street Theatre, a powerful revival that brings a long-overlooked Irish play back to London audiences. Directed by Jonathan Bank, the production explores love, ambition, and societal expectations across seven transformative years.
Featuring an all-Irish cast, Wife to James Whelan shines a light on Deevy’s voice as one of Ireland’s most significant yet underappreciated playwrights. Feehely takes on the role of Bill McGafferty in this intimate and emotionally rich production.
The show runs from 25 June to 25 July 2026, with a press night on 1 July. Tickets are available here.
You’re starring in Wife to James Whelan at Jermyn Street Theatre, what can you tell us about the show?
The play focuses on the residents of a small town in Ireland, specifically James Whelan and his friends, lovers and enemies.
It is a story spanning a number of years which invites us to consider who we are to one another and what impact our choices have on each other.
You play Bill McGafferty in Teresa Deevy’s rediscovered play. What drew you to this role and how have you approached it?
Like anything, the strength of the character is only as good as the play they belong in, so the play is always the initial draw for me.
Bill is fascinating, and I’m enjoying getting to know him more and more. In terms of the approach, learning the lines is the best place to start!
The play explores themes of ambition, love, and social expectation in Ireland. What do you think makes these themes resonate with audiences today?
The true strength of plays like this is that there is very little you have to do to make them relevant.
That is, for me, the definition of timeless. Teresa Deevy wasn’t writing a play about 1930s Ireland, she was writing a play about people and the condition of what it is to be alive.
No matter what time you’re living in, that’s something we can all resonate with.
This production brings Teresa Deevy’s work back into the spotlight. How important is it for you to be part of reintroducing her writing to new audiences?
I like to think that working on a play is a bit like forming a friendship with the playwright.
Sadly, Teresa’s work rarely gets programmed back home. Admittedly, I hadn’t even heard of the play before auditioning, so I find it a tremendous honour to get to show her work and exciting to get to know more of it myself!
You’re working with director Jonathan Bank and an Irish ensemble cast. What has the rehearsal process been like so far?
A lot of laughing.
The team is wonderful, talented and hardworking, and Jonathan runs a great room. Happy campers all round.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Wife to James Whelan?
Go for it. It’s going to be a special one.
