Latest news with #AWhistleInTheDark
Extra.ie
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
From Trinity to the Abbey, Mescal set for triumphant return to Dublin
He exploded to fame playing Trinity student Connell, and Paul Mescal will be taking the short stroll up O'Connell Street to appear on the Abbey Theatre stage in 2027. The Normal People and Gladiator II star is set to make his debut at London's National Theatre in A Whistle In The Dark, which will then transfer to the Abbey. The 1961 play, written by Tom Murphy with Caitriona McLaughlin directing, tells the story of Michael, the oldest of the Carney sons, and his father and brothers, a brawling, hard-drinking criminal gang of Irish immigrants living and working in Coventry. Paul Mescal. Pic: James Veysey/Shutterstock Gemma Bodinetz, the director of Mescal's former acting school, Trinity College's The Lir Academy, is confident 'he'll do brilliantly'. Ms Bodinetz told that the school keeps a close watch on all its graduates 'but obviously, Paul is hugely successful, and we are confident he'll do brilliantly'. 'He still keeps in contact with so many of his tutors here at the Lir,' she continued. 'They get the occasional phone call to talk about a part he might be considering doing. Gemma Bodinetz 'There'll be a whole heap of us going to London to see him and then back. We just hope there are some tickets left,' Ms Bodinetz joked. It won't be the first time Mescal treads the boards at Ireland's most famous theatre, having first performed at the Abbey in a 2018 production of Asking For It by Louise O'Neill. That play began its run at the Everyman Theatre in Cork before transferring to the Abbey for three weeks. He played Bryan, the older brother of a secondary school girl whose life is left in ruins after she is raped at a house party. Michael Moffatt praised Mescal's performance as one of the best and hailed the play as 'a screaming indictment of the way women are turned into disposable sexual objects'. The Kildare actor will also star in Arthur Miller's Death of A Salesman at the National Theatre in London, with dates for the production yet to be announced. REPORTING BY JAMIE MCCARRON
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Stormzy to front new National Theatre diversity drive after signing up for 'top secret' project as legendary venue plans 'rap adaptations' of classic Greek tragedy
Stormzy will front a new National Theatre diversity drive after signing up for a 'top secret' project at the iconic London venue. The Croydon-born grime artist, real name Michael Omari Owuo Jr, has been scouted by newly appointed National Theatre boss Indhu Rubasingham as she looks to modernise and diversify its creative output. As the South Bank venue's first female and ethnic minority artistic director, Rubasingham has announced plans to stage rap adaptations of classic Greek tragedy, although Stormzy's involvement is yet to be clarified. The subversive move is part of a wider aim to build an international audience through the National Theatre's online streaming platform, National Theatre At Home. The £9.99 per month platform - originally launched in 2020 - will give subscribers the opportunity to watch theatrical productions from the comfort of home and create what insiders hope will be a ' Netflix for theatre' Irish actor Paul Mescal, fresh from his Hollywood breakthrough in Gladiator II, will also boost the theatre's international ambitions having signed up for a new production of Arthur Miller's classic Death Of A Salesman and Tony Murphy's A Whistle In The Dark. The productions will take place as part of Rubasingham's inaugural programme, with dates for the performances yet to be announced. Both 20th century plays will take place in the Lyttelton Theatre, and focus on dysfunctional family relationships, the struggle for identity, and societal and familial expectations. A Whistle In The Dark will later transfer to the Abbey Theatre, while a second pair of productions to run in the Lyttelton will be announced at a later date. Elsewhere, Sri Lankan actor Hiran Abeysekera will be the first non-white star to play Shakespeare's Hamlet in another forthcoming production. Euripides's The Bacchae will also be given a modern twist, with Rubasingham planning a rap adaptation of the iconic Greek tragedy. Other projects focusing primarily on themes of gender and race include The Story, an American drama about racial politics, and Cloud 9, a study on colonialism. Discussing the move towards a more modernist theatre on Tuesday, Kate Varah, the National Theatre's executive director, said plans to expand its streaming service would help attract audiences 'not just in our country, but in 184 countries around the world'. She said: 'It's no longer just about what happens here on the South Bank, the National Theatre is now a global theatre with an audience of 28 million per year.' Rubasingham is the seventh director National Theatre director since its was launched by Sir Laurence Olivier in 1963. Alongside Varah, she also works as the legendary venue's joint chief executive. Her 2023 appointment follows her role as boss of London's Kiln Theatre, where she attracted controversy after the venue refused to host an event associated with Israel.
BreakingNews.ie
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Paul Mescal to make National Theatre debut in two 20th century plays
Irish actor Paul Mescal is to make his debut at London's National Theatre in productions of A Whistle In The Dark and Death Of A Salesman. The productions will take place as part of National Theatre co-chief executive Indhu Rubasingham's inaugural programme, with dates for the performances yet to be announced. Advertisement Both 20th century plays will take place in the Lyttelton Theatre, and focus on dysfunctional family relationships, the struggle for identity, and societal and familial expectations. A Whistle In The Dark will later transfer to the Abbey Theatre, while a second pair of productions to run in the Lyttelton will be announced at a later date. Paul Mescal was recently cast as Sir Paul McCartney in an upcoming series of Beatles films. Photo: Ian West/PA. Tom Murphy play A Whistle In The Dark will be directed by Caitriona McLaughlin, while Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman will be directed by Rebecca Frecknall. Further casting and ticket sale dates will be announced in due course. Advertisement Speaking about the new programme, Rubasingham said: 'The National Theatre is a very special place at the heart of our national discourse, and I am incredibly proud to be its seventh director. 'I am so excited about everything to come, and the wealth of projects and artists announced today. 'The National Theatre is a beacon of creativity, humanity and possibilities. It holds the stories of so many people who have made this place mean so much to so many. 'This is just the beginning, a flavour of what's to come, the start of the next chapter.' Advertisement The National Theatre will also work with rapper Stormzy on a production. Ireland Families of murdered MPs reject Kneecap's 'half an... Read More The news about Mescal came after it was announced the 29-year-old will play Sir Paul McCartney in four films directed by Sir Sam Mendes about The Beatles. He shot to stardom during the pandemic for his role as love interest Connell Waldron in BBC miniseries Normal People, based on the novel of the same name by Irish author Sally Rooney. Mescal also won an Olivier Award for a stage adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire, before starring in Gladiator II, directed by Sir Ridley Scott, as an arena fighter who tries to bring down two maniacal emperors. Advertisement
Irish Independent
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Paul Mescal to star in A Whistle in the Dark in Dublin's Abbey Theatre and London's National Theatre
Both 20th century plays will take place in the Lyttelton Theatre, and focus on dysfunctional family relationships, the struggle for identity, and societal and familial expectations. Co-Director of the Abbey Theatre, Artistic Director Caitríona McLaughlin said: 'It is very meaningful for us at the Abbey Theatre to have such fulsome engagement in this next chapter of the National Theatre of Great Britain. It will be an honour to bring The Playboy of the Western World and A Whistle in the Dark before audiences in London. Every generation deserves to see these two seminal works of the Irish canon.' The productions will take place as part of National Theatre co-chief executive Indhu Rubasingham's inaugural programme, with dates for the performances yet to be announced. Tom Murphy play A Whistle In The Dark will be directed by Caitriona McLaughlin, while Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman will be directed by Rebecca Frecknall. Further casting and ticket sale dates will be announced in due course. Speaking about the new programme, Rubasingham said: 'The National Theatre is a very special place at the heart of our national discourse, and I am incredibly proud to be its seventh director. 'I am so excited about everything to come, and the wealth of projects and artists announced today. 'The National Theatre is a beacon of creativity, humanity and possibilities. It holds the stories of so many people who have made this place mean so much to so many. 'This is just the beginning, a flavour of what's to come, the start of the next chapter.' The National Theatre will also work with rapper Stormzy on a production. The news about Mescal came after it was announced the 29-year-old will play Paul McCartney in four films directed by Sam Mendes about The Beatles. He shot to stardom during the pandemic for his role as love interest Connell Waldron in BBC miniseries Normal People, based on the novel of the same name by Irish author Sally Rooney. Mescal also won an Olivier Award for a stage adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire, before starring in Gladiator II, directed by Sir Ridley Scott, as an arena fighter who tries to bring down two maniacal emperors.
