NEW PLAY A RADICAL REINTERPRETATION OF JEAN COCTEAU’S MASTERPIECE
Prime Cut Productions, Ireland’s leading independent and award winning theatre company, presents the premiere of a new version of Jean Cocteau’s The Human Voice, by Darren Murphy at the Lyric Theatre Naughton Studio, 12-28 February. Directed by critically acclaimed Emma Jordan (Little Brother, The Pillowman, The Beauty Queen of Leenane) and starring Nicky Harley (The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Dancing at Lughnasa), this new version is a radical reimagining of Cocteau’s work.
It is a contemporary Belfast story of a woman juggling love and work, as emotional and psychological demands on her time from a desperate client interrupts the devastation of her final call with the lover who abandons her. Pushed to her limits, she must negotiate a treacherous path between her private and public worlds. Heartache is not the aching, luxurious business it used to be.
Described by critics as “an act of radical experimentation” “timeless” and “ a rite of passage for the greatest female actors.”, Jean Cocteau’s The Human Voice has been produced as theatre, television, radio, film and opera, and performed by an iconic array of actresses that include Tilda Swinton, Ingrid Bergman, Sophia Loren, Rosamund Pike and Ruth Wilson since he first wrote it in 1930. It is a true classic of European Theatre.
The production also features an exciting and critically acclaimed Creative Team including: Ciaran Bagnall (Set & Lighting), Conor Mitchell (Sound and Compositon), Rosie McClelland (Costume),
Looking forward to the premiere, Emma Jordan, Director at Prime Cut Productions, said: “ “Murphy’s version of The Human Voice gives us a fresh insight into a woman juggling lost love and work responsibilities – its a story the audiences will all be able to relate to – and Nikki Harley is exceptional.”
Darren Murphy: Playwright added
“Emma Jordan mentioned she wanted to do a version of The Human Voice with Nicky Harley in the role, and I automatically heard myself say: ‘I can do that.’ I hadn’t been asked. I knew the play well, but it hadn’t occurred to me to adapt it before. In one of those rare moments of synchronistic happenstance it flashed in front of me, like Jung’s imago; I both saw and heard a snatch of it, or at least an intuitive sense of it. It was Nicky’s voice. I knew I wanted to write for it..”
Caoileann Curry-Thompson, Arts Development Officer for Drama and Dance, Arts Council of Northern Ireland commented:
“Prime Cut Productions is an award-winning, critically acclaimed theatre company and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland is thrilled to support them with this contemporary production of the classic play, The Human Voice. Brought to the Belfast stage by a stellar cast and creative team, this production promises to be special, and I would encourage everyone to go along and enjoy!.” The Human Voice will premiere at The Lyric , Belfast from 12 -28 February 2026. To book tickets, visit Lyric website here For further information on Prime Cut Productions visit www.primecutproductions.co.uk on Facebook, X and Instagram
Production Photos
Creative Team
Written by Darren Murphy (X’ntigone)
Directed by Emma Jordan (The Pillowman, Beauty Queen of Leenane, Red)
Designed by Ciaran Bagnall (The Pillowman, Beauty Queen of Leenane, Red)
Sound Design by Conor Mitchell (Abomination, MASS, Propaganda)
Costume Design by Rosie McClelland (The Pillowman, Aurora, Rhino)
Cast Nicky Harley (Woman)
