The Pillowman
Written by Martin McDonagh
Directed by Joshua Lombard
March 27-April 12th 2025
The Secret Theatre
More Info
The Pillowman, by Martin McDonagh, is a viciously funny, seriously disturbing play about a writer in a totalitarian state who is interrogated by two brutal detectives about the gruesome content of his short stories and their similarities to a number of murders that are happening in his town. This leads to a complex exploration of the relationship between art, violence, and the nature of creativity, while also raising questions about the power of the state to control artistic expression.
*Equity approved Showcase.
“From beginning to end, the show urges the audience to consider the importance of artistic expression and how far one would go to protect it when it comes under attack.” Stephanie G. Medit-Associate Editor – The Queens Chronicle
“The Pillowman is a staggering, monumental and haunting piece of dramatic literature; this beautiful iteration faithfully affirms Martin McDonagh’s resonant and jauntily bleak vision.” Daryll Reilly-Editor and Chief – Theater Scene
The Queens Chronicle
Theater Scene
Production Photos by Laura Yost Photography
Cast and creative
A Note from the Director: Joshua Lombard
“The Pillowman is a haunting exploration of storytelling’s power to both heal and destroy. When I first encountered this work on Broadway in 2005, I was struck by its masterful ability to dance between darkness and humor, making audiences squirm while drawing them deeper into its web of moral complexity.
What makes The Pillowman particularly resonant today is its unflinching examination of authority, truth, and artistic freedom. In an era where debates about censorship and creative expression rage across the nation, where artists and their work are censored, stifled, or erased from history books, and where the line between fact and fiction grows increasingly blurred, the play’s themes feel more urgent than ever.
At its heart, this is a story about stories—their ability to shape us, save us, and sometimes destroy us. Through the character of Katurian, we explore how narrative becomes both shield and weapon, a means of processing trauma while sometimes perpetuating it. This duality speaks powerfully to our current moment, where stories—true or false—spread ****at lightning speed, leaving lasting scars.
The play’s genius lies in its refusal to provide easy answers. Instead, it challenges us to sit with discomfort, to question our assumptions about morality and responsibility. In staging this work, we aim to honor this complexity while drawing out the dark humor that makes the journey not just bearable, but compelling.
Through this production, we invite audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about power, creativity, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. The Pillowman reminds us that art, at its most powerful, doesn’t just reflect our world—it challenges us to see it more clearly, even when that vision disturbs us.” – Josh Lombard