West End leading lady Mazz Murray will star as Philomena Lynott in Moonlight – The Philip Lynott Enigma, which makes its London premiere at the Eventim Apollo Hammersmith on Sunday 29 March.
The major new rock musical charts the life of Thin Lizzy frontman Philip Lynott. Murray joins the production for the London date only, marking a return to the iconic venue where Thin Lizzy recorded their legendary “Live & Dangerous” album in 1976.
The cast is led by Peter M. Smith as Philip Lynott. Padraic O’Loingsigh appears as Brendan Behan, with Riley Clark as Oscar Wilde and Luke Hayden as The Landlord. John Newcombe plays The Journalist, and Thin Lizzy founding guitarist Eric Bell will make a special guest appearance.
Already acclaimed in Ireland, Moonlight features book and music by John Merrigan and Danielle Merrigan and is directed by Jason Figgis. The musical delves into Lynott’s formative years, exploring the hardships, artistry and poetic identity that shaped one of Ireland’s most influential musicians.
Peter M. Smith said:
“When offered the chance to play Philip Lynott, I was truly honoured as a proud Dubliner, and as a Thin Lizzy fanatic. Too much has been written about the rockstar lifestyle – it is a tired subject. This production seeks to honour Philip Lynott for what he was – a literary great and consummate artist.”
Lynott was born in Birmingham in 1949 to Philomena Lynott and Cecil Parris. After a turbulent childhood, he grew up in Crumlin, Dublin, which became his creative home and source of inspiration.
He rose to international fame as frontman of Thin Lizzy. Hits such as “Whiskey in the Jar”, “The Boys Are Back in Town” and “Waiting for an Alibi” defined the group’s global success across the 1970s.
The musical provides a deeper portrait of Lynott, revealing the poet beneath the rock icon. It recounts his drive, creativity and struggles, as well as the relationships that shaped him.
Writers John Merrigan and Danielle Merrigan said:
“Though Moonlight is a standalone stage production, it is the third in a trilogy of our works about great literary artists who emerged from Dublin onto the world stage. The other two are: Vengeance (2021) about the demise of Oscar Wilde and Brendan – Son of Dublin (2023) about the life and times of Brendan Behan.
“Wilde died when he was 46 in Paris, Behan aged 41 in Dublin, and Lynott when he was just 36 years old in England. All were flawed characters which makes them both interesting and at times problematic. The varied themes that flow through their lives are highly interconnected and at times eerily similar. They were ambitious outsiders who struggled with their art, their fame, their complex relationship with Dublin, and all fought ‘convention’ in their own way. They were true poets who held a mirror up to us all, asking important and sometimes uncomfortable questions, often at great cost to themselves and those close to them.
“As writers and composers, we explore these themes through words and music to gain insight and understanding. The works are musical dramas or perhaps better described as plays with music. Sometimes the songs move the plot forward, at other times they deliberately stop the action to allow us to reflect. The style of music changes with the context of each work.
“In the end, we may never fully understand these characters who have left us with important literary and musical legacies that continue to stand the test of time. Sadly, many others before and after them struggled too. We hope to make a small contribution towards a greater recognition of the importance of Wilde, Behan and Lynott in current times. In so doing, we further hope that we can all be kinder to the literary outsiders of today and support them, not waiting until they too pass to recognise how much they enrich our lives.”
Moonlight is produced by Fatdan Productions and will tour the UK following the London premiere.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
