Following a critically acclaimed, sold-out Irish debut, the new rock musical Moonlight: The Philip Lynott Enigma is set to make its highly anticipated London premiere this spring. The production will open at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, on Sunday, March 29, 2026—a poignant return to the very stage where Thin Lizzy recorded their legendary Live and Dangerous album exactly fifty years ago.
Written and composed by John and Danielle Merrigan and directed by Jason Figgis, Moonlight moves beyond the standard "rockstar lifestyle" tropes to offer a sophisticated portrait of Philip Lynott as a literary great. The musical explores his formative years in Crumlin, his experiences as Ireland’s first major international rock icon, and his enduring legacy as a poet.
The production stars Dubliner Peter M. Smith as Lynott, alongside Padraic O’Loingsigh as Brendan Behan and Riley Clark as Oscar Wilde. In a significant nod to the show's authenticity, founding Thin Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell will make a special guest appearance. For the creators, Lynott represents the final installment of a Dublin literary trilogy, following works centered on Wilde and Behan—three ambitious outsiders who challenged convention through their art.
After its London premiere, the production will embark on a comprehensive UK tour throughout May. The trek includes stops at the Glasgow Pavilion (May 20), Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House (May 21), the Orchard Theatre in Dartford (May 22), and the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham (May 23). The journey concludes with a homecoming double-header at Dublin’s Vicar St on June 11 and 12.
As the lyric goes, "The Boy is Back in Town," but Moonlight promises to show fans a side of the man they haven't seen before: the dreamer, the fighter, and the visionary who changed the face of Irish music forever. Tickets are available now via the official venue websites.
