The Pillowman

The Pillowman runs at the Old Fire Station from Wednesday 20 to Saturday 23 January 2027, with all performances starting at 7.30pm. It's the debut production from Shight Productions, a new Oxfordshire-based independent company founded by actor and sound designer Eloise Sheffield and musician and producer Dan Knight. They're producing and directing it together, and they've put a particular emphasis on sound and production design for this one.

The Pillowman is Martin McDonagh's acclaimed black comedy about storytelling, artistic freedom and a series of disturbing crimes. The plot centres on a writer interrogated by two morally bankrupt detectives after a string of child murders bears a striking resemblance to his unsettling short stories, and fairy tales turn into nightmare fuel. It's a three-act play that interweaves brotherhood, truth and the power of stories in shaping who we become. McDonagh is also the playwright and filmmaker behind In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Banshees of Inisherin, so if you're familiar with his films, you'll recognise that same dark, sharp-edged wit here. Ben Brantley of The New York Times called it 'a spellbinding stunner of a play' and added 'Comedies don't come any blacker than this.'

It's recommended for audiences aged 16 and over, so keep that in mind if you're thinking of bringing anyone younger. The production runs in the January Theatre at the Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AQ. Tickets are £20 standard, £14 reduced, and £26 for those able to pay more.