Director Fiach Mac Conghail announces 2010 programme
Thank you for your interest in the Abbey Theatre. I am pleased to announce our programme for the Abbey stage until the autumn 2010.
I am very proud that we have two world premieres and that I am delivering on my promise to present work that will engage and entertain you. In these challenging times in Ireland, the Abbey Theatre will continue to contribute to the national conversation and I have chosen plays that deal with our recent history and issues of power, politics and revolution. Beidh mór dhrámaí le feiscint an séasúr seo.
We start 2010 by presenting the superbly funny Guna Nua/Civic Theatre production of Little Gem by Elaine Murphy. We follow that with our first world premiere of the year – Thomas Kilroy’s new play Christ Deliver Us! based on German dramatist Frank Wedekind’s daring play, Spring Awakening. Then, The Waterboys invite us to have An Appointment with Mr Yeats.
We will continue our 2010 programme with Macbeth by William Shakespeare (30 March – 15 May), Bookworms a hugely entertaining new play by Bernard Farrell (22 May – 10 July) and Sean O’Casey’s masterpiece The Plough and the Stars (from 20 July).
With Macbeth we continue our commitment to present a play by William Shakespeare every year. I picked Macbeth because of its exploration of leadership, paranoia and morality. Also, of course, because it is one of the greatest plays ever written and because we were able to cast two of Ireland’s finest actors in the title roles, Aidan Kelly will play Macbeth and Eileen Walsh will be Lady Macbeth. I’m delighted we will be offering schools performances and workshops alongside this production.
Our second world premiere of the year will be Bookworms, a new play commissioned by the Abbey from the master of comedy, the ever popular playwright Bernard Farrell. With his finger on the pulse of contemporary life, he hilariously presents the world of the Book Club in post Celtic tiger Ireland.
The Plough and the Stars is one of the plays most closely associated with the Abbey Theatre. It is a play that every generation needs to see and an important play for the Abbey Theatre to do now at this time of national uncertainty. It is both an intimate play about ordinary people and an epic play about ideals and the birth of our nation. I am proud to present it at this time. I have invited director Wayne Jordan to bring the fresh perspective of a new generation to this iconic play.
We also continue our work overseas. Ages of the Moon, the second Sam Shepard play to premiere at the Abbey, has its New York premiere at the Atlantic Theater in January. Following the success of its recent national tour and run at the Melbourne International Arts Festival, we are currently planning a Stateside tour of Mark O’Rowe’s critically acclaimed Terminus for autumn 2010.
Is mór liom do thacaíocht i gconaí nuair a thagann tú go drámaí ag Amharclann na Mainistreach. I hope that you look forward to these productions and that we welcome you to the Abbey soon. Don’t forget, if you become a Friend or Member of the Abbey Theatre you will be able to book ahead of the crowd and receive a host of other benefits.
With Christmas approaching, and much to entertain you in 2010, it’s the perfect time to treat someone to the gift of a great night out. We’ve a choice of dramatic gift options for you to consider.
Le gach dea-ghuí,
Fiach Mac Conghail
Director/Stiúrthóir