Following a critically acclaimed, sold out Irish premiere, Moonlight – The Philip Lynott Enigma will have its UK premiere at Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith on Sunday 29 March before embarking on a UK tour.
The new musical, written by John Merrigan and Danielle Merrigan and directed by Jason Figgis, explores the life of international rock star Philip Lynott. It offers an in depth look at the man behind the music, from his formative years and early struggles to the creation of a legacy that continues to inspire musicians around the world.
The London premiere is especially significant as it marks a return to the venue where Thin Lizzy’s iconic Live & Dangerous album was recorded in 1976, fifty years before Moonlight’s arrival. The production then tours to Glasgow Pavilion on 20 May, Newcastle Opera House on 21 May, Dartford Orchard Theatre on 22 May, Birmingham Alexandra Theatre on 23 May, and concludes with two dates at Dublin’s Vicar St on 11 and 12 June.
Actor and singer Peter M. Smith stars as Philip Lynott, with Padraic O’Loingsigh as Brendan Behan, Riley Clark as Oscar Wilde, and original Thin Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell making a special guest appearance.
Smith says: “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.”
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.”
The show presents a deeper portrait of Lynott, examining the creative genius, isolation and contradictions that drove him. His musical achievements with Thin Lizzy, including hits such as Whiskey in the Jar, The Boys Are Back in Town and Waiting for an Alibi, are interwoven through his personal story.
Moonlight is produced by Fatdan Productions.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
