Latest news with #AbbeyTheatre
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Lisa McGee completely captured an era, a humour that is so specific, so original to the north'
From the screen to the stage, Judith Roddy is set for her National Theatre of Ireland debut, as she tells Aine Toner From today, Derry actor Judith Roddy will be on stage with Tommy Tiernan and Aaron Monaghan in Kevin Barry's dark comedy The Cave. Directed by Co-Director of the Abbey Theatre, Artistic Director Caitríona McLaughlin, this marks her debut at the National Theatre of Ireland in which she plays the local sergeant, who meets Archie and Bopper McRae in a dead zone in the mountains of south county Sligo, and becomes increasingly entangled in their lives.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Louise O'Neill among writers pushing the boundaries of theatre at Cork Midsummer Festival
She may have made her name as an author but it turns out that Louise O'Neill's true love is the theatre. When I chat to O'Neill, she is in London, where she has seen two plays in quick succession — Conor McPherson's new play The Brightening Air and the buzzy Broadway transfer Stereophonic by David Adjmi. "I just adore the theatre. Wherever I am, I'm always like 'what play can I go and see?'. There is something about being in a dark room with a few hundred other people and you have all signed this covenant that you are going to suspend disbelief for the next couple of hours.' So, when the opportunity arose to write her own play, O'Neill jumped at the chance. It was an offer with an attractive twist — to contribute a piece to Theatre for One, a very different prospect to the usual theatrical experience. A highlight of the Cork Midsummer Festival, Theatre for One presents a selection of five-minute pieces performed by a lone actor to an audience of one in a confessional-style booth. The unusual format has proved a big hit with audiences in its previous two iterations, and this year, the theme of Made in Cork adds some extra hometown flavour. Clonakilty native O'Neill is one of six Cork writers featuring, along with Cónal Creedon, Katie Holly, John McCarthy, Michael John McCarthy and Gina Moxley. 'It is really pushing the boundaries of what theatre can be and it is just really exciting to be part of that,' says O'Neill. "I had seen previous plays by Marina Carr, Mark O'Rowe, Louise Lowe, and Enda Walsh and it felt so intimate and spellbinding. Theatre is so much about the connection between the actor and the audience. Every night feels different, the energy, the dynamic, because of a new audience and how people respond to the material. There is something so fascinating about boiling that down to two people in one space.' O'Neill may have proven her own talent in a different literary field, but this isn't her first theatrical outing. Her second novel Asking For It, dealing with the aftermath of a sexual assault in a small Irish town, became a phenomenon, and was later adapted for the stage, premiering at the Cork Midsummer Festival in 2018. However, long before that, she trod the boards herself, as a member of Kilmeen Drama Group, in their award-winning production of The Playboy of the Western World, which went on to be performed at the Abbey Theatre in 2013. 'Kilmeen was my local drama group and they were just such a wonderful source of inspiration. My mother would take me and my sister to the All-Ireland Drama Festival every year and we would see a different play every night. Lauren Coe as Emma and Paul Mescal as Bryan in Landmark Productions and the Everyman world premiere production of Asking for It by Louise O'Neill. Picture: Hugh O'Conor. "The level of expertise that those people have in writing, acting, staging, sets and lighting, is really quite extraordinary. Being exposed to that from a young age gave me such a love for theatre, and an appreciation and understanding of it that as an adult I feel immensely grateful for.' The surprise factor means O'Neill can't reveal too much about her Theatre for One piece, apart from the fact that it perhaps signals a change in focus inspired by her own stage in life. 'The protagonist of the piece is a woman in her 50s. There is probably an expectation that it would centre on a teenager but I have just turned 40 and I have friends in their 50s and 60s — I do think the interior lives of women of that age are quite fascinating, that shedding of old identities.' There is a pleasing symmetry in O'Neill's involvement in Theatre for One — it is staged by Landmark Productions, founded by Cork woman Anne Clarke, which also brought Asking For It to the Everyman Theatre in 2018. Julie Kelleher, who was artistic director of the venue at that time, is now directing O'Neill's piece and also helped her rein in her novelistic tendencies. 'I'm very used to having a lot of time and space to expand on my ideas. I handed in a first draft which was about 3,000 words. I asked Julie was she sure that my piece couldn't be longer than everyone else's and she was like, 'no',' laughs O'Neill. 'It was a really interesting creative experience, trying to see where I could trim off any excess material and hone it as much as I could.' Another play which O'Neill says she enjoyed recently was A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Paul Mescal as Stanley Kowalski. In another harmonious turn, one of the now world-famous actor's first roles was in Asking For It, playing the brother of the main character. O'Neill uses an apposite comparison when she describes how she felt seeing Mescal acting in Asking For It. 'It was akin to Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire when he comes on screen and there is an incredibly naturalistic, raw energy about him. Paul has a lot of that, you could see there was something special about him. The cast of Asking For It as a whole were absolutely outstanding, as a writer to see your words being brought to life in the mouths of such talent was such a privilege.' O'Neill is busier than ever, and completed her Theatre for One piece while also working on not one, but two books, a novel and an eagerly anticipated memoir, which will be out next year. She won't rule out writing a full-length play at some point. 'With me, it is always about trying to find the time because I always seem to have another project. You never know, I would love to.' Theatre for One, presented by Landmark Productions and Octopus Theatricals, Jun 14, 15, 17-22, free of charge. See for times. More theatrical treats at Cork Midsummer Festival Escaped Alone , The Everyman Theatre, Jun 12 -14. , The Everyman Theatre, Jun 12 -14. Caryl Churchill's satirical play celebrates the voices of older women, showcasing the talents of a superb cast. Stitch , J Nolan Stationary, 21 Shandon St, Jun 13-22. , J Nolan Stationary, 21 Shandon St, Jun 13-22. Making ingenious use of a shop premises, this production starring the prodigious Irene Kelleher exemplifies the Midsummer mission to use the city as a stage. The Black Wolfe Tone , Cork Arts Theatre, Jun 20-21 , Cork Arts Theatre, Jun 20-21 Written and performed by Kwaku Fortune, this thought-provoking production is a powerful meditation on identity and what it means to be Irish. The Second Woman , Cork Opera House, 24 hours from 4pm, Jun 14- to 4pm, Jun 15 (entry slots available at different times) , Cork Opera House, 24 hours from 4pm, Jun 14- to 4pm, Jun 15 (entry slots available at different times) A bold and ambitious production in which Cork actor Eileen Walsh will perform with an unrehearsed cast of 100 over 24 hours at Cork Opera House. Bottlenose: A Mystery for Modern Ireland , Granary Theatre, Jun 19-22 , Granary Theatre, Jun 19-22 A comic dive into the demise of the beloved Fungie, late of Dingle Bay. Read More Wicked: For Good trailer shows Elphaba in exile and first glimpse of Dorothy
Belfast Telegraph
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Tommy Tiernan: ‘I have no real facility for handling money. I love shopping, but I have no interest in investing or saving'
He may be used to asking the questions, but Tommy Tiernan is rarely short of things to say. From quantum physics to brain surgery, buying a motorbike and being an irresponsible dad, he covers a lot of ground in a frank chat with Tanya Sweeney Tommy Tiernan starts every morning with a double espresso (and, very occasionally, a cigar) and no wonder. You'd want to be fairly caffeinated to keep up with the Galway-based actor/comedian's significant workload. Today, we are meeting in the Abbey Theatre, where Tiernan is gearing up for a role in three-hander The Cave, a black comedy written by Kevin Barry and co-starring Aaron Monaghan and Judith Roddy.
Irish Independent
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Tommy Tiernan: ‘I'm a great dad for chats. But also, I'm kind of irresponsible'
He may be used to asking the questions, but Tommy Tiernan is rarely short of things to say. From quantum physics to parenting, buying a motorbike and banning phones at his gigs, the funnyman has a lot to say... Today at 21:30 Tommy Tiernan starts every morning with a double espresso (and, very occasionally, a cigar) and no wonder. You'd want to be fairly caffeinated to keep up with the Galway-based actor/comedian's significant workload. Today, we are meeting in the Abbey Theatre, where Tiernan is gearing up for a role in three-hander The Cave, a black comedy written by Kevin Barry and co-starring Aaron Monaghan and Judith Roddy.
Irish Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Win a golden ticket to the Abbey Theatre, the National Theatre of Ireland.
The National Theatre of Stories - a celebration of epic Irish storytelling is at the heart of the Abbey Theatre's artistic programme for 2025. The National Theatre of Ireland will feature the best of new Irish playwriting, with six world premieres from playwrights Kevin Barry, Barbara Bergin, Marina Carr, Carys D. Coburn, Caitríona Daly and Jimmy McAleavey set for the Abbey and Peacock Stages. The six playwrights represent an assortment of the most thrilling voices in Irish playwriting today. The six plays are: The Cave , written by Kevin Barry and directed by Caitríona McLaughlin: June 6th to July 18th on the Abbey Stage. Static , written by Jimmy McAleavey and directed by John King: June 20th to July 18th on the Peacock Stage. The Lunch Punch Power Hour in Conference Room 4 , written by Caitríona Daly and directed by Raymond Keane: July 31st to September 6th on the Peacock Stage. The Boy , written by Marina Carr and directed by Caitríona McLaughlin: September 15th to November 1st on the Abbey Stage. BÁN , written by Carys D. Coburn and directed by Claire O'Reilly: September 30th to November 8th on the Peacock Stage. Dublin Gothic , written by Barbara Bergin and directed by Caroline Byrne: November 21st to January 31st, 2025 on the Abbey Stage. Learn more about these six plays and see what else is on at your national theatre here . For your chance to win, simply fill in the form below. Good luck! Terms & Condition The promotion is open to residents of Ireland aged 18 years or over except employees of the Promoter, their families, agents or anyone professionally connected with the promotion. A valid entry consists of a correct answer entered in the form above, accompanied by the entrant's name, email address and a phone number. No applications from agents, third parties, organised groups or applications automatically generated by computer will be accepted. No incomplete, illegible, or corrupted entries will be accepted. No entries not in accordance with the entry instructions will be accepted. The Promotion will run from 23/05/2025 to midnight on 08/06/2025 inclusive. All entries must be received by the Promoter by no later than midnight on the Closing Date. All competition entries received after the Closing Date are automatically disqualified. Promotion limited to one entry per person. No entrant will win more than one prize. By submitting an entry to the Promoter, you are agreeing to be bound by these terms and conditions. It is the responsibility of You, the entrant, to provide correct, up-to-date details when entering the promotion and on acceptance of the prize. The Promoter cannot be held responsible for winners failing to supply accurate information which affects prize acceptance or delivery of their prize Responsibility will not be accepted for entries lost, damaged, delayed or prevented as a result of any event beyond the Promoter's control including, but not limited to, user error and any network, computer, hardware or software failures of any kind.. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt. Entries will become the property of the Promoter. The prize is two tickets to each Abbey Theatre world premiere production scheduled for 2025 including: The Cave by Kevin Barry, Static by Jimmy McAleavey, The Lunch Punch Power Hour in Conference Room 4 by Caitríona Daly, The Boy by Marina Carr, Bán by Carys D. Coburn and Dublin Gothic by Barbara Bergin. There will be one winner. All prizes will be subject to any additional terms and conditions of the supplier of the prize to the Promoter. This prize is valid for 12 months from date of issue, is subject to availability and cannot be refunded or redeemed for cash. The Promoter shall not be liable for any loss, including, without limitation, indirect, special or consequential loss, or loss of profits, damage or consequential damage of any nature in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise caused by the acceptance of the terms and conditions or in connection with the prize, save for any liability which cannot be excluded by law. In the event of unforeseen circumstances the Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize for an alternative of equal or greater value. The winners will be notified by email. The winner must claim the prize within 30 days of the notification. If the prize is unclaimed after this time, it will lapse and the Promoter reserves the right to offer the unclaimed prize to a substitute winner selected in accordance with the Promotion rules. Where a winner has successfully claimed the prize, the Promoter shall dispatch, or arrange to dispatch, the prize to the winner at the earliest opportunity. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall be interpreted as placing an obligation on the Promoter to dispatch, or arrange to dispatch, the prize within a specified period of time. The Promoters' decision is final and binding in all matters and no correspondence will be entered into. The winners' details (name and county) will be made available on The Irish Times website. The winner may be required to participate in unpaid publicity arising from this promotion. The Promoter will only process your personal information as set out in and as set out in these terms and conditions. Prizes are non transferrable and cannot be exchanged for cash. These terms and conditions shall be governed by Irish law and the Courts of the Republic of Ireland shall have exclusive jurisdiction. Promoter and Data Controller: The Irish Times DAC, The Irish Times Building, P.O. Box 74, 24 - 28 Tara Street, Dublin 2. The Promoter reserves the right to hold void, suspend, cancel or amend the Promotion where it becomes necessary to do so.
