Ryan Donaldson is a London-based actor from Lisburn, Northern Ireland.
A graduate of LAMDA, The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, Ryan's extensive list of theatre credits include Dear England at the UK's National Theatre, Much Ado About Nothing and King Lear at Shakespeare’s Globe and Tartuffe at the Abbey Theatre.
This month he stars in the world premiere of Do You Come From Gomorrah?, the new play by Frank McGuinness, running on the Peacock Stage at the Abbey Theatre. Over the course of 75 minutes, we meet a man who has come through a terrible experience with enough humanity left that he can tell us about it...
We asked Ryan for his choice cultural picks...
FILM
The Princes Bride. The tone of this film is perfection. The sword fight between Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin is pure comedy gold. I also love when Cary Elwes and Robin Wright are in the fire swamp! The "Rodents of Unusual Size" are one of the funniest named creatures in any movie ever. And also, kind of scary.
MUSIC
I love Big Thief. A couple of summers ago I went to see them live in Gunnersbury Park and they were incredible. Adrianne Lenker is just an incredible artist and performer, and Buck Meek is the most insane guitar player.
BOOK
The Trip to Echo Spring. Olivia Laing investigates the relationship between alcoholism and some of the greatest writers of the 20th century. It combines memoir, research and biography to examine the effects of alcohol on a life and on the creative process with extraordinary empathy.
THEATRE
I love the plays of Tennessee Williams, all of them. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a play I would love to do. The title of the Olivia Laing book I mentioned above is actually taken from the play - Brick uses the phrase 'a trip to echo spring' to signal his trips to the liquor cabinet. It is also a reference to a brand of bourbon.
TV
Just a Dash with Matty Matheson. I’m obsessed with food and I watch a lot of cooking shows. It’s kind of an antidote to the normal formula of a cooking show. He cooks delicious recipes like beef cheek enchiladas and oxtail pho while causing chaos and having a laugh. I have actually made the beef cheek enchiladas that he makes in the show, and they are incredible.
GIG
Nick Shoulders at the Islington Assembly Hall. Islington Assembly Hall is a really cool venue with an old timey disco ball! Nick Shoulders is a county music artist from Arkansas; he has lots of old-style country influences in his music like yodeling and whistling. His music is mostly about the love for a sense of place and for the countryside where he grew up.
ART
The Turner exhibition at the Tate Britain. It’s absolutely extraordinary. It’s also completely free! One of my favourite things about London is being able to walk into an exhibition like that for free.
PODCAST
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard. I am a full-on Armcherry. I think I’ve listened to every single episode. I love how open and vulnerable Dax and Monica are. It means they get really interesting interviews from their guests.
TECH
I’m not a big tech person to be honest. I honestly don’t think I have a favourite app or website. Let’s say City Mapper. I use it all the time ! Very practical!
THE NEXT BIG THING...
I’m hoping the next big thing will be for everyone to step back and away from our devices. I worry that we are becoming more isolated as a society and my hope is that generations to come will react against this; maybe choose to put down the screens for a bit and talk to somebody.
Do You Come From Gomorrah? is running on the Peacock Stage at the Abbey Theatre until 16 May 2026. Find out more here.
