Glen Hansard musical adaptation of Waking Ned Devine to premiere

A new musical adaptation of the film ‘Waking Ned Devine’ is scheduled to premiere at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast in February 2027. The production features music and lyrics co-composed by the late Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová.

Hansard, an acclaimed Irish musician known for his work with The Frames and The Swell Season, passed away following a motorcycle accident in Dublin in July. Despite his death, the creative team, including director John Doyle and co-composer Irglová, has committed to completing the project. Irglová described the opportunity to continue the work Hansard began as ‘both a privilege and a blessing.’

The musical is based on the 1990s comedy film set in a fictional Irish village. The story follows residents attempting to share a lottery fortune after the winner dies unexpectedly. The stage production aims to translate the film’s themes of community, friendship, and humor through a new musical score.