Abbey Theatre - Amharclann na Mainistreach

Annual Report 2016
Contents

Annual Report 2016

Part 2

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2016 Programme Highlights

Daring new versions of classic plays from the canon

 
 
Nyree Yergainharsian (Rosie Redmond) and Ger Kelly (A Bar-tender) in The Plough and the Stars by Sean O’Casey, directed by Sean Holmes.

The Plough and the Stars

Nyree Yergainharsian (Rosie Redmond) and Ger Kelly (A Bar-tender) in The Plough and the Stars by Sean O’Casey, directed by Sean Holmes.

The Plough and the Stars

By Sean O’Casey

90 years on from its controversial premiere, we invited audiences to take a fresh look at The Plough and the Stars by Sean O’Casey. Internationally acclaimed British director Sean Holmes created an irreverent, contemporary production of this classic.

Cast: Ian-Lloyd Anderson, Kate Stanley Brennan, Tony Clay, Lloyd Cooney, Hilda Fay, David Ganly, Rachel Gleeson, James Hayes, Liam Heslin, Ger Kelly, Janet Moran, Ciarán O’Brien, Mahnoor Saad, Nima Taleghani, Eileen Walsh, Nyree Yergainharsian

Director: Sean Holmes
Production Associate Director: Ronan Phelan
Set Designer: Jon Bausor
Assistant Set Designer: Rebecca Brower
Costume Designer: Catherine Fay
Lighting Designer: Paul Keogan
Music & Sound Designer: Philip Stewart

 

Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme

By Frank McGuinness

To commemorate the Battle of the Somme, we presented Frank McGuinness’s enduring war play. Directed by Headlong’s Artistic Director, Jeremy Herrin, this was a co-production between the Abbey Theatre, Headlong, Citizens Theatre and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse.

Cast: Ryan Donaldson, Donal Gallery, Jonny Holden, Andy Kellegher, Paul Kennedy, Marcus Lamb, Chris McCurry, Seán Mc Ginley, Iarla McGowan.

Director: Jeremy Herrin
Assistant Director: Bryony Shanahan
Set Designer: Ciaran Bagnall
Costume Designer: Niamh Lunny
Lighting Designer: Paul Keogan
Sound Designer: Emma Laxton

 
Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme by Frank McGuinness. Directed by Jeremy Herrin. Photography by Johan Persson.

Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme

Ryan Donaldson (David Craig) and Donal Gallery (Kenneth Pyper) in Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme by Frank McGuinness. Directed by Jeremy Herrin. Photography by Johan Persson.
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World premieres of plays that hold up a mirror to contemporary Ireland

 

Cyprus Avenue

By David Ireland

Cyprus Avenue by David Ireland was a co-production with London’s Royal Court Theatre and saw us work with Vicky Featherstone as director for the first time. This black comedy took Eric Miller’s identity crisis to the limits as he uncovered the modern day complexity of Ulster Loyalism.

The world premiere of Cyprus Avenue continued our relationship with David Ireland who first collaborated with us in 2011 with Half a Glass of Water, as part of the Something Borrowed Short Play Commission Series. Cyprus Avenue won Best New Play and Best Actor for Stephen Rea at The Irish Times Theatre Awards 2016.

Cast: Chris Corrigan, Julia Dearden, Amy Molloy, Wunmi Mosaku, Stephen Rea

Director: Vicky Featherstone
Set and Costume Designer: Lizzie Clachan
Lighting Designer: Paul Keogan
Sound Designer: David McSeveney
Fight Director: Bret Yount
Assistant Director: Ng Choon Ping

 
Amy Molloy (Julie) and Stephen Rea (Eric) in Cyprus Avenue by David Ireland. Directed by Vicky Featherstone.

Cyprus Avenue

Amy Molloy (Julie) and Stephen Rea (Eric) in Cyprus Avenue by David Ireland. Directed by Vicky Featherstone. Photography by Ros Kavanagh.
 
 
Andrew Connolly (Paddy), Sarah Morris (Edel), Keith Hanna (Dave), Josh Carey (Bundy), Hilda Fay (Tina) and Scott Graham (Aaron) in Tina’s Idea of Fun by Sean P. Summers. Directed by Conall Morrison. Photography by Ros Kavanagh.

Tina’s Idea of Fun

Andrew Connolly (Paddy), Sarah Morris (Edel), Keith Hanna (Dave), Josh Carey (Bundy), Hilda Fay (Tina) and Scott Graham (Aaron) in Tina’s Idea of Fun by Sean P. Summers. Directed by Conall Morrison. Photography by Ros Kavanagh.

Tina’s Idea of Fun

Tina’s Idea of Fun was an Abbey Theatre commission from writer Sean P. Summers.

A love letter to contemporary Dublin, Sean’s brave and urgent writing created Tina; she’s stuck on the drink and can’t get through to her son. Hilda Fay returned to the Abbey in the role of Tina and Josh Carey, Scott Graham and Sarah Morris made their Abbey debuts.

Cast: Josh Carey, Andrew Connolly, Hilda Fay, Scott Graham, Keith Hanna, Ruth Hegarty, Sarah Morris.

Director: Conall Morrison
Set and Costume Designer: Sarah Bacon
Sound Designer: Ben Delaney
Lighting Designer: Kevin McFadden

 

Town is Dead

Written by Phillip McMahon
Music by Raymond Scannell

The Abbey’s second collaboration with the makers of Alice in Funderland, Town is Dead was a play within music, by Phillip McMahon and Raymond Scannell.

Town is Dead took on the isolation of old age, emigration, addiction, broken families and crumbling dreams.

Barbara Brennan was joined on stage by three actors making their Abbey debuts - Kate Gilmore, Fia Houston-Hamilton and Conall Keating. Barbara won Best Actress for her portrayal of Ellen at The Irish Times Theatre Awards 2016.

Cast: Barbara Brennan, Kate Gilmore, Fia Houston-Hamilton, Conall Keating

Musicians: Danny Forde (Band Leader/Keyboards), Christiane O’Mahony (Harp) and Conor Sheil (Clarinet/Bass Clarinet)

Writer and Director: Phillip McMahon
Music By: Raymond Scannell
Musical Director: Cathal Synnott
Set Designer: Paul O’Mahony
Lighting Designer: Sarah Jane Shiels
Costume Designer: Saileóg O’Halloran
Sound Designer: Ben Delaney
Movement Director: Megan Kennedy

 
Kate Gilmore (Rachel) and Barbara Brennan (Ellen) in Town is Dead by Phillip McMahon and Raymond Scannell. Photography by Ros Kavanagh.

Town is Dead

Kate Gilmore (Katarina) and Barbara Brennan (Ellen) in Town is Dead by Phillip McMahon and Raymond Scannell. Photography by Ros Kavanagh.
 
 
Killian Donnelly (Jackie Day) in Donegal by Frank McGuinness, Music by Kevin Doherty. Directed by Conall Morrison. Photography by Ros Kavanagh.

Donegal

Killian Donnelly (Jackie Day) in Donegal by Frank McGuinness, Music by Kevin Doherty. Directed by Conall Morrison. Photography by Ros Kavanagh.

Donegal

By Frank McGuiness
Music by Kevin Doherty

A new musical play by Frank McGuinness about family, place and country music, Donegal was directed by Conall Morrison with music by Kevin Doherty. West End stars Siobhan McCarthy and Killian Donnelly made their Abbey debuts playing country music singing mother and son Irene and Jackie.

This new musical was presented back to back with Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme and marked a continuation of a long collaborative relationship between the Abbey and Frank McGuinness in Fiach Mac Conghail’s tenure.

Cast: Deirdre Donnelly, Killian Donnelly, John Kavanagh, Frank Laverty, Siobhan McCarty, Keith McErlean, Ruth McGill, Eleanor Methven, Megan Riordan

Musicians: Paul Brennan (Pedal steel/Banjo/Guitar, James Delaney (Band Leader/Keyboards/Accordion, Jason Duffy (Drums/Percussion),Kenneth Edge (Alto Saxophone/Clarinet), Jack Maher (Bass/Guitar), Conor O’Farrell-Brady (Guitar)

Composer: Kevin Doherty
Director: Conall Morrison
Musical Director and Arranger: Conor Linehan
Set Designer: Liam Doona
Costume Designer: Joan O’Clery
Lighting Designer: Ben Ormerod
Sound Designer: Alexis Nealon
Audio Visual Designer: Arnim Friess
Movement Director: Muirne Bloomer
Assistant Director: Conor Bagley

 

The Remains of Maisie Duggan

By Carmel Winters

Directed by Ellen McDougall, Artistic Director of London’s Gate Theatre, The Remains of Maisie Duggan opened in September during Dublin Theatre Festival alongside the world premiere of Donegal by Frank McGuinness.

Bríd Ní Neachtain returned to the Abbey Theatre to perform the title role of Maisie Duggan. Maisie believes she has died and attempts to plan her own funeral.

This continued our relationship with award-winning writer, Carmel Winters, who made her debut at the Abbey in 2010, with B for Baby which won Best New Play at the Irish Times Theatre Awards 2010.

Cast: Bríd Ní Neachtain, Rachel O’Byrne, Cillian Ó Gairbhí, John Olohan

Director: Ellen McDougall
Set Designer: Fly Davis
Costume Designer: Sinéad Cuthbert
Lighting Designer: Sarah Jane Shiels
Composer and Sound Designer: Alexandra Faye Braithwaite
Fight Directors: Eimear O’Grady & Ciarán O’Grady

 
Bríd Ní Neachtain (Maisie) in The Remains of Maisie Duggan by Carmel Winters. Directed by Ellen McDougall. Photography by Ros Kavanagh.

The Remains of Maisie Duggan

Bríd Ní Neachtain (Maisie) in The Remains of Maisie Duggan by Carmel Winters. Directed by Ellen McDougall. Photography by Ros Kavanagh.
 
 
Future Tense

Future Tense

Tara McKevitt, Sonya Kelly, Lisa Carroll and Ross Dungan. Photography by Monika Chmielarz.

Future Tense

Short plays by Lisa Caroll, Ross Dungan, Sonya Kelly and Tara McKevitt as part of the Abbey Theatre Short Play Commission Series

With Future Tense, the seventh in the series of Abbey Theatre short play commissions, a new generation of playwrights looked to the future.

Lisa Carroll, Ross Dungan, Sonya Kelly and Tara McKevitt were invited to respond to the broad range of global and cultural issues discussed at The Theatre of Change Symposium in January 2016. We were delighted with the breadth of responses we received: Lisa Carroll’s sharply insightful exploration of the moment after trauma, Ross Dungan’s poignant illumination of end-of-life ethics, Sonya Kelly’s raucously funny but hard-hitting look at unconscious bias and Tara McKevitt’s surreal take on the psychic landscape of contemporary Northern Ireland.

The Abbey short play commissions have been instrumental in introducing the work of playwrights including Gary Duggan, Stacey Gregg, Nancy Harris, David Ireland, Jimmy McAleavey, Phillip McMahon and Elaine Murphy to Abbey Theatre audiences.

Snapdragon
By Lisa Carroll

Directed by Ronan Phelan
Cast: Jane Brennan and Sarah Madigan

The Pet Sitter
By Sonya Kelly

Directed by Ronan Phelan
Cast:Kathy Rose O’Brien and Rebecca O’Mara

The Weight of a Tonne
By Tara McKevitt

Directed by Maisie Lee
Cast: Sophie Harkness and James Murphy

Perihelion
By Ross Dungan

Directed by Maisie Lee
Cast: Peter Daly and Marie Ruane
Design by Cáit Corkery

 
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Classic works re-examined for 2016

 
 
L-R Michael James Ford (Gratiano/ Ensemble), Malcolm Douglas (Duke of Venice/ Ensemble), Cormac McDonagh (Officer/ Ensemble), Des Cave (Montano/ Ensemble), Peter Gowen (Brabantio/ Ensemble), Marty Rea (Iago), John Merriman (Officer/ Ensemble), Michael Patrick (Officer/ Ensemble) and Peter Macon (Othello) in Othello by William Shakespeare. Directed by Joe Dowling. Photography by Patrick Redmond.

Othello

L-R Michael James Ford (Gratiano/ Ensemble), Malcolm Douglas (Duke of Venice/ Ensemble), Cormac McDonagh (Officer/ Ensemble), Des Cave (Montano/ Ensemble), Peter Gowen (Brabantio/ Ensemble), Marty Rea (Iago), John Merriman (Officer/ Ensemble), Michael Patrick (Officer/ Ensemble) and Peter Macon (Othello) in Othello by William Shakespeare. Directed by Joe Dowling. Photography by Patrick Redmond.

Othello

By William Shakespeare

To mark the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, we presented Othello for the first time featuring Peter Macon as Othello and Marty Rea as Iago.

Internationally acclaimed Joe Dowling returned to the Abbey Theatre to direct this story of love, jealousy, betrayal and revenge in a breathtaking production.

Cast: Karen Ardiff, Barry Barnes, Des Cave, Malcolm Douglas, Laurence Falconer, Liz Fitzgibbon, Michael James Ford, Gavin Fullam, Peter Gowen, Peter Macon, Cormac McDonagh, John Merriman, Barry John O’Connor, Rebecca O’Mara, Michael Patrick, Marty Rea

Director: Joe Dowling
Set Designer: Riccardo Hernandez
Lighting Designer: Sinéad McKenna
Costume Designer: Joan O’Clery
Composer and Sound Designer: Conor Linehan
Movement Director: David Bolger
Fight Director: James Cosgrave

 
Brian Doherty (Finbar), Aisling O’Sullivan (Vera) and Frank McCusker (Henry) in The Wake by Tom Murphy, directed by Annabelle Comyn. Photography by Ros Kavanagh.

The Wake

Brian Doherty (Finbar), Aisling O’Sullivan (Vera) and Frank McCusker (Henry) in The Wake by Tom Murphy, directed by Annabelle Comyn. Photography by Ros Kavanagh.

The Wake

By Tom Murphy

We were delighted to continue our long association with Tom Murphy by presenting The Wake in 2016, directed by award winning Annabelle Comyn who previously collaborated with Tom Murphy on The House (Best Director, Irish Times Theatre Awards 2012).

The Wake first premiered on the Abbey stage in 1998, and is still relevant for 2016 because it is a prophetic play which warns of the greed and materialism of Irish life.

Cast: Jasper Cahill, Kelly Campbell, Lorcan Cranitch, Brian Doherty, Tina Kellegher, Nichola MacEvilly, Ruth McCabe,Frank McCusker, Pat Nolan, James O’Donoghue, Aisling O’Sullivan.

Director: Annabelle Comyn
Set Designer: Paul O’Mahony
Lighting Designer: Sinéad McKenna
Costume Designer: Sarah Bacon
Composer and Sound Designer: Philip Stewart
Movement Director: Bryan Burroughs
Fight Director: Ciarán O’Grady

 

Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy in a new version by Marina Carr

In a modern reworking of a much-loved classic, we presented Marina Carr’s new version of Tolystoy’s Anna Karenina.

Director Wayne Jordan (Oedipus, Twelfth Night, 16 Possible Glimpses, Alice in Funderland) brought this explosive story to life in an explosive, funny and romantic production.

Cast: Hannah Beatty, Barbara Brennan, Anthony Brophy, Killian Burke, Brooke Butler, Alexandra Conlon, Declan Conlon, Derbhle Crotty, Nick Dunning, Lisa Dwan, Rory Fleck Byrne, Rachel Lynch, Julie Maguire, Paul Mallon, Margaret McAuliffe, James McCann, Ruth McGill, Barry McKiernan, Cormac Melia, Amelie Metcalfe, Ronan Millar, Jake O’Loughlin, Andrew Synnott, Cathal Synnott, Cathy White

Director: Wayne Jordan
Set and Costume Designer: Sarah Bacon
Lighting Designer: Sinéad Wallace
Composer: David Coonan
Sound Designer: Philip Stewart
Movement Director: Liz Roche
Assistant Director: Zoe Ní Riordáin

 
Lisa Dwan (Anna Karenina) and Rory Fleck Byrne (Vronksy) in Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy in a new version by Marina Carr. Directed by Wayne Jordan.

Anna Karenina

Lisa Dwan (Anna Karenina) and Rory Fleck Byrne (Vronksy) in Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy in a new version by Marina Carr. Directed by Wayne Jordan. Photography by Ros Kavanagh.
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Showcasing independent theatre companies

 
 
Image required

All That Fall

Photography by Ros Kavanagh.

All That Fall

By Samuel Beckett

On the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the birth of Samuel Beckett, Pan Pan Theatre made their debut on the Abbey stage with their internationally acclaimed version of All That Fall.

Presenting Samuel Beckett’s first radio play as a communal auditory event, this was a unique chance for audiences to take their seat on the Abbey stage for an intimate and unforgettable theatrical experience.

Cast: Andrew Bennett, Phelim Drew, John Kavanagh, Nell Klemenčič, Áine Ní Mhuirí, Robbie O’Connor, Joey O’Sullivan, David Pearse, Daniel Reardon and Judith Roddy

Director: Gavin Quinn
Designer: Aedín Cosgrove
Sound Designer: Jimmy Eadie

 

Longing Lasts Longer

By Penny Arcade

Co-presented by the Abbey and Tiger Dublin Fringe, Penny Arcade, queen of the New York underground returned to the Abbey with a passionate and exuberant performance of her show Longing Lasts Longer. Penny gave us a taste of this show earlier in 2016 at The Theatre of Change Symposium.

Conceived: Written and Performed by Penny Arcade

Co-directer and designer: Steve Zehentner
Creative producer: Jeremy Goldstein
Lighting Designer: Marty Langthorne

 
Penny Arcade in Longing Lasts Longer

Longing Lasts Longer

Penny Arcade. Photography by Steven Menendez.
 
 
Cáit Fahy in Age of Transition by Aoife McAtamney

Age of Transition

Aoife McAtamney in Age of Transition. Photography by Cáit Fahey

Age of Transition

By Aoife McAtamney

Tiger Dublin Fringe presented Aoife McAtamney’s feast of contemporary dance, music and arts on the Peacock stage. This celebration of community featured original songs in collaboration with composer Michael Gallen, choreography by Berlin dance troupe Sweetie Sit Down and design by visual artist Kelly Tivnan.

Produced by Amy Fox, this piece was funded by the Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Goethe-Institut Irland, Firkin Crane and Dance Ireland. Developed at FRINGE LAB with the support of Tiger Dublin Fringe.

 

Fornocht Do Chonac – Naked I Saw You

By Eoghan Ó Tuairisc
Le Eoghan Ó Tuairisc

Grinncheistiú ar oidhreacht Phádraig Mhic Phiarais, réabhlóidí 1916. An Taibhdhearc a láithrigh léiriú ilmheánach Eoghain Uí Thuairisc. Is i 1979 a taibhíodh an dráma seo den chéad uair agus is léargas feanntach é ar shochaí na hÉireann.

An interrogation of the legacy of 1916 revolutionary Patrick Pearse, Eoghan Ó Tuairisc’s multimedia production was presented by An Taibhdhearc. This play was first performed in 1979 and is a scathing look at Irish society.

Cast / Aisteoirí: Gráinne Bleasdale, Doireann Ní Fhoighil and Micheál Ó Dubhghaill

Director / Stiúrthóir: Eoin Mac Diarmada
Set Designer / Dearthóir Seite: Dara McGee
Lighting Designer / Dearthóir Soilse: Matt Burke
Costume Designer / Feisteas: Bláth Ní Núanáin
Video Designer / Dearthóir Físeán: Sean Cathal Ó Coileáin

 
Fornocht Do Chonac – Naked I Saw You

Fornocht Do Chonac –
Naked I Saw You

Photography by Jane Talbot.
 
 
The 24 Hour Plays: Dublin 2016

The 24 Hour Plays: Dublin 2016

 

The 24 Hour Plays: Dublin 2016

The 24 Hour Plays: Dublin was presented for a fifth year running in 2016in aid of Dublin Youth Theatre.

Six short plays were written, rehearsed and presented all within 24 hours. A team of over 30 theatre technicians, including producers from The 24 Hour Company in New York, facilitated the work.

The 24 Hour Plays: Dublin was presented under a license and with the participation of The 24 Hour Play Company, New York, NY and was produced by Eva Scanlan and Phillip McMahon as a fundraising event for Dublin Youth Theatre.

Cast: Marc Elliott, Joanne McNally, Eleanor Tiernan, Eric Lalor, Dagmar Döring, Kate Brennan, Geoff Minogue, Daryl McCormack, Claire O’Reilly, Norma Sheehan, Dawn Bradfield, Donna Dent, Denis Conway, Raymond Keane, Ian Toner, Lloyd Cooney, Pom Boyd, Peter Campion, David Crowley, Sean Doyle, Nuala Hayes, Breffni Holahan, Will Irvine, Aoibheann McCann, Paddy O’Dwyer, Christiane O’Mahony, Lorna Quinn, and Gene Rooney

Writers: Emmet Kirwan, Lee Coffey, Rosaleen McDonagh, Tara Flynn, Derek O’Connor, and Jacinta Sheerin and Tracy Martin
Directors: Madeline Boughton, Selina Cartmell, Conor Hanratty, David Horan, Donnacadh O’Briain and Aoife Spillane Hinks

 

Rising: Dublin Youth Theatre

Inspired by the role young people played in the lead-up to 1916, Rising was a wide-ranging contemporary look at what revolution means to young people in Ireland now.

Developed with a cast of 20 Dublin Youth Theatre members in collaboration with documentary playwright Helena Enright and director Tom Creed, Rising was an exploration of art as activism, music as mobilizer and theatre as propaganda machine.

Cast: Ella Barton, Ana Canals Ni Eigeartaigh, Issac Casey, Ciara Cochrane, Aoife Connolly O’Sullivan, Niamh Cotter, Ailbhe Cowley, Gary Finnegan, Eoin Fullston, Kit Geraghty, Meabh Hennelly, Maria Lee, Scott Leeson, Aoife Mooney, Ava Leigh O’Shea, Michael Ryan, Amy Sheilds, Dylan Spurling, Lee Stafford and Sean Talbot

Creators: Helena Enright and Tom Creed
Director: Tom Creed
Assistant Director: Mark Ball
Music and Sound Designer: Jack Cawley
Costume Designer: Deirdre Dwyer
Set and Lighting Designer: Sarah Jane Shiels
Dramaturg: David Olivarez

 
Rising: Dublin Youth Theatre

Rising: Dublin Youth Theatre

Photography by Ste Murray.
 
 
The Ireland Trilogy

The Ireland Trilogy

Lauren Larkin in The Ireland Trilogy. Photography by Ros Kavanagh.

The Ireland Trilogy

Dublin based theatre collective THEATREclub made their Abbey Theatre debut with The Ireland Trilogy comprising three performance pieces made by THEATREclub over the previous six years. This was the first time they were presented as a trilogy.

The Family, HEROIN and HISTORY traced an unwritten narrative of Ireland, one that looked at the recent past through the lens of equality asking: have we treated all the children of the nation equally?

Cast: Shane Byrne, Gemma Collins, Gerard Kelly, Lauren Larkin, Louise Lewis, Barry O’Connor, Nyree Yergainharsian

Written and devised by: Grace Dyas and the cast
Director: Grace Dyas
Historian (History): Cormac Ó Comhraí
Video Artist (History): Joe Lee
Composers (History): Ger Kelly, Seán Millar and Barry John O’Connor
Lighting Designer: Eoin Winning
Costume Designer: Emma Fraser
Set Designer: Doireann Coady
Sound Designer: Rob Moloney
Sound Designer(Heroin): Frank Sweeney

 

Celebrating Amateur Drama

Glengarry Glen Ross

As winners of the Abbey Theatre Award at the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival 2016, Dundalk Theatre Workshop performed their production of Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet on the Peacock stage.

Cast: Tim Ahern, Paudie Breen, Paul McGee, Jimmy Mceneaney, Fergus Mullen, Gerry O’Hara, Sean Whelan
Director: Matt Murphy
Assistant Director: Trevor Lee
Set Designer: Tony Rice
Lighting Designer: Seamus Farrell
Costumes: Aine Corcoran

 
Glengarry Glen Ross

Glengarry Glen Ross

Dundalk Theatre Workshop
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Touring throughout Ireland and internationally

We had a record year of touring with 1,000 performances of six plays. Our footprint reached across two continents, five countries and over 90 venues.

 
 
Ian-Lloyd Anderson (Jack Clitheroe) and Kate Stanley Brennan (Nora Clitheroe) in The Plough and the Stars by Sean O’Casey, directed by Sean Holmes. Photograph by Ros Kavanagh.

The Plough and the Stars

Ian-Lloyd Anderson (Jack Clitheroe) and Kate Stanley Brennan (Nora Clitheroe) in The Plough and the Stars by Sean O’Casey, directed by Sean Holmes. Photograph by Ros Kavanagh.

Ireland

The Plough and the Stars was seen by 14,000 people on a four venue Irish tour to the Cork Opera House; the National Opera House, Wexford; the Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick; the Town Hall Theatre, Galway.

Closer to home, students at Tallaght Community School and The Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital experienced a special Unplugged performance of O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars. The pupils in Tallaght helped us to design a teacher’s pack and we made a video of the Unplugged experience.

Me, Mollser was seen by over 18,000 children in 56 venues across Ireland.

 

North America

The Plough and the Stars also toured to Washington DC; Toronto; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Montclair, New Jersey and Ohio. O’Casey’s classic was seen by over 18,000 people in six cities across the USA and Canada

In Washington DC, we were honoured to feature as part of IRELAND 100: Celebrating a Century of Irish Arts and Culture at the Kennedy Center.

The North American tour was presented in association with Cusack Projects Limited

Boston & Philadelphia

Me, Mollser toured in Boston and Philadelphia to nine libraries in partnership with Boston Public Library and the Free Library of Philadelphia. It was seen by 400 students from 11 schools.

New York

Owen McCafferty’s Quietly played for three months at The Irish Repertory Theatre in New York in the Summer and was seen by over 9,500 people.

 
Declan Conlon and Patrick O’Kane in the Abbey Theatre production of Owen McCafferty’s QUIETLY, directed by Jimmy Fay on the Peacock Stage. Photography by Anthony Woods.

Quietly

Declan Conlon and Patrick O’Kane in Quietly, directed by Jimmy Fay. Photography by Anthony Woods.
 
 
Ryan Donaldson (David Craig) and Donal Gallery (Kenneth Pyper) in Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme by Frank McGuinness. Directed by Jeremy Herrin. Photography by Johan Persson.

Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme

Ryan Donaldson (David Craig) and Donal Gallery (Kenneth Pyper) in Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme by Frank McGuinness. Directed by Jeremy Herrin. Photography by Johan Persson.

United Kingdom & Europe

Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme went on an epic six month tour of ten venues across Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and France. It was seen by over 14,000 people in Glasgow, Liverpool, Belfast, Derry, Armagh, Coleraine, Letterkenny, Oxford and Cambridge.

As part of the official Battle of the Somme Commemorative Programme 2016, we presented Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme in two special performances in France.

We mounted a poignant open air performance on the Somme battlefield at the Ulster Memorial Tower in Thiepval and a full performance at the Maison de la Culture in Amiens.

London & Manchester

Cyprus Avenue by David Ireland travelled to the Royal Court Theatre in London after its world premiere at the Abbey Theatre.

Of This Brave Time by Jimmy Murphy brought compelling accounts of the Easter Rising to life at the London Irish Centre and the Manchester Irish World Heritage Centre.

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An international perspective on the events of 1916

 
 
The Theatre of Change Symposium

The Theatre of Change Symposium

Declan Kiberd at The Theatre of Change Symposium. Photography by Monika Chmielarz.

The Theatre of Change Symposium

At the Theatre of Change Symposium artists, historians and theatre makers discussed the changes facing Ireland in areas such as feminism, the right to privacy, data protection, memory, war and global politics. It was our third and final international symposium inviting artists to publicly discuss their roles and perspectives in commemorating Ireland’s decade of centenaries.

Speakers: Penny Arcade, Lian Bell, Sarah Browne, Susan Cahill, Dominic Campbell, Prof. Joseph Cleary, Emer Coleman, Annabelle Comyn, Loughlin Deegan, Ray Dolphin, Oskar Eustis, Prof. Sheila Gallagher, Gabriel Gbadamosi, Sinéad Gleeson, Stacey Gregg, Nancy Harris, Nuala Hayes, Jaki Irvine, Jesse Jones, Prof. Richard Kearney, Zoe Lafferty , Gideon Levy, Fiach Mac Conghail, Lara Marlowe, Dr. Mary McAuliffe, Dearbhail McDonald, Ruth McGowan, Phillip McMahon, Taiseer Merei, Eleanor Methven, Peter Murtagh, Fearghus Ó Conchúir , Andrew O’Hagan, Mark O’Halloran, Mark O’Rowe, Dr. Emer O’Toole, Kelly Phelan, Sarah Jane Scaife, Jessica Traynor

As part of The Theatre of Change Symposium, we presented:

Staged Reading

Of This Brave Time

By Jimmy Murphy
Directed by Conall Morrison

Wednesday 20 – Saturday 23 January

What questions would you ask if you could speak to someone who experienced Easter 1916 first hand?

Of This Brave Time is based on eye witness testimonies taken from Fearghal McGarry’s book Rebels: Voices from the Easter Rising.

Cast: Catherine Byrne, Liam Carney, Des Cave, Ruth Hegarty, Vincent McCabe, Derry Power

Rehearsed Reading

Journey to X

by Nancy Harris
Directed by Ronan Phelan, Resident Assistant Director

Saturday 23 January

Fourteen-year old Penny’s in trouble and needs to get to the UK. What better excuse than the X Factor auditions?

Journey to X was first commissioned by the National Theatre Connections in 2012.

Cast: Josh Carey, Sebastian Daly, Robert Donnelly, Sean Doupe, Isabelle Fynn, Scott Graham, Lewis Harris, Shauna Harris, Sophie Meade, Katie White

 

New Middle East

Dublin was a centre point of conflict in international politics in 1916. For Easter Week, we invited Oyoun Theatre and Khashabi Theatre from the Druze Community in Occupied Golan to present New Middle East by Mutaz Abu Saleh and directed by Bashar Murkus.

Cast: Amal Kais–Abu Saleh and Henry Andrawes

Writer: Mutaz Abu Saleh
Director & Dramaturgy: Bashar Murkus
Scenography: Majdala Khoury
Music: Terez Sliman and Yazan Ibraheem
Lighting Design: Naame Zaknoon

Graphic from New Middle East.
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The Abbey’s 1916 story & the Abbey Rebels

The Abbey Theatre was born out of the Irish Cultural Revival. Our founders W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory placed the Abbey Theatre at the centre of a national conversation about our identity as an emerging nation. Members of the Abbey Company and staff fought in the Easter Rising. This rich history inspired us as we hosted events and exhibitions to recall our links to the events of 1916.
 
Graphic from New Middle East.

Abbey Rebels

We unveiled a new memorial plaque to remember former staff members, actors and writers who were associated with the Abbey Theatre and who took part in the 1916 Rising. It made for an emotional day for the family and friends of the Abbey Rebels, some of whom had not been properly commemorated until then: Seán Connolly, a leading actor of the day and member of the Irish Citizen Army (he was the first rebel fatality); Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh, a member of Cumann na mBán; Helena Molony, a trade union leader and a Citizen Army leader; Ellen Bushell, an usher; Barney Murphy, a stage hand and Irish Volunteer; Arthur Shields, an Irish Volunteer who went on to find fame as an actor in Hollywood; and Peadar Kearney, prop-man and author of the Irish national anthem.

We also unveiled exhibitions about the Abbey Rebels at the Abbey and at Eden Quay to the great interest of passers-by.

memorial plaque in the Abbey Theatre - It is a hard service they take that help me - Kathleen Ni Houlihan

The Abbey Theatre & the Easter Rising, 1916

We collaborated with Google Cultural Institute as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme to create an online exhibition of material from the Abbey Archive. The exhibition looked at the influence of the Irish Literary Revival in the lead up to the events of Easter Week 1916 and recalls the 50th anniversary commemorations at the Abbey Theatre.

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Listening to Irish society

with our Community & Education programmes

 

Community & Education at the Abbey is about opening up Ireland’s national theatre so everyone can participate. We want to foster a dialogue with contemporary Irish society, especially with those who are heard less often. We particularly want to hear from children and young people and show respect for their passions and perspectives. We learn about people’s lives and bring new voices into the Abbey. We aspire to take theatre outside of the building into communities all over the country. We want to provide a continuing insight into the changing nature of Ireland.
 
 
The Ireland Trilogy

Listening to Irish society with our Community & Education programmes

Mary Lou McCarthy in Me, Mollser.

Me, Mollser

By Ali White

Me, Mollser is part of the Abbey’s Priming the Canon Series which introduces classic Irish plays to a younger audience and is accompanied by curriculum linked resources and workshops.

This performance retells The Plough and the Stars by Sean O’Casey through the eyes of its youngest character, Mollser. She guides us through her overcrowded Dublin tenement during the 1916 Easter Rising.

Me, Mollser toured Ireland and the US during 2016.

Cast: Susan Davey, Alicia Gerrard, Clara Harte, Áine Ní Laoghaire (Mise, Mollser), Mary-Lou McCarthy

Director: Sarah Fitzgibbon
Set and Sound Designer: Sarah Fitzgibbon and Phil Kingston
Costume Designer: Vicky Miller
Composer: Philip Cullen

Mise, Mollser

In addition to Me, Mollser’s Irish and US tour we joint commissioned and coproduced a translation of Me, Mollser with Údáras Na Gaeltachta. Mise, Mollser performers Aine Ni Laoghaire and Morgan Cooke did a two week tour of Gaeltacht areas.

Director: Sarah Fitzgibbon
Translator: Pearse O'Caoimh
Irish Language consultancy: Caitriona Ni Mhurchu

Me, Sara

We commissioned Dylan Coburn Gray to write a monologue based on the character Sarah Tansey from The Playboy of the Western World by J.M. Synge. We organised a reading at Baboró International Arts Festival for Children followed by a discussion of national identity and the national theatre's responsibilities towards the theatre for young audiences sector.

Junior Certificate Theatre Making & Citizenship

In our fourth year of this programme, we continued to work with Larkin Community College, Marino College, Assumption Secondary School, Walkinstown and Creagh College Secondary School, Gorey, Wexford. Theatre-Making and Citizenship is a drama programme for Junior Certificate level students, which we piloted with Larkin Community College in 2014.

Abbey Theatre / RTÉ All Island Schools Drama Competition

In partnership with RTÉ, we launched a special competition for 2016, inviting schools to write a play about the events of 1916. Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana, Co. Donegal, St Mary’s Boy’s School, Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick and Gaelscoil ngCrann, Co. Omagh, Tyrone competed on the Abbey Stage. Actors, Ian Lloyd Anderson, Clare Monnelly, Suzanne Kelly (producer, RTE) and Phil Kingston, Community & Education Manager, Abbey Theatre awarded St Mary’s Boy’s School the winners.

MAMs (Mothers Artists Makers) and Men’s Projects

Inspired by our production of Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, the MAMs group performed Observe the Mothers of the Theatre Marching Towards the Stage.

In partnership with axis, Ballymun’s Creative Space Project, Oonagh Murphy, former resident director at the Abbey, worked with young men to explore contemporary ideas of masculinity culminating in performances at axis: Ballymun and at the Abbey.

SAOL

As part of our long term partnership with this organisation for women in recovery, we explored the issue of domestic violence. Despite the superficially upbeat nature of our production of Bernard Shaw’s You Never Can Tell the participants discerned an implication of abuse behind the story and, in association with facilitator Sylvia Beatley, devised a short and powerful drama based on their personal experiences.

The piece was later repeated at a conference on trauma where it provoked an intense and cathartic conversation on the coincidence of violence among couples and their subsequent drug use. This project also involved the mentoring of six drama students from Coláiste Dhúlaigh who were studying theatre outreach work.

Fighting Words

For the fourth year running we collaborated with Fighting Words, Roddy Doyle's creative writing charity. We hosted our annual rehearsed reading of short plays written by young people. We invited directors Sarah Baxter and Paul Meade to work with the young people on the final readings and presented eight plays on the Abbey stage to 250 people. 

BeLonG To

In collaboration with Trinity College, Dublin, we continued to collaborate with BeLonG To on a project called We are Family for LGBT teenagers. The group collaborated with Trinity students and the second phase of the collaboration reached fruition with the performance of We Know What’s Best, a show about family life, at the Samuel Beckett Theatre. With the BeLonG To group we partnered with Dublin Theatre Festival providing the group with the opportunity to see shows and do workshops with the theatre-makers after the show.

 

Abbey Talks

The Abbey Theatre offers a programme of talks to complement, interrogate and explore its plays. These talks are recorded as podcasts and are made available on line. In 2016, 12,000 people listened to the podcasts and attended post show talks. All of the below recordings are available through abbeytheatre.ie and AbbeyTheatre on soundcloud.com/abbeytheatre.

Meet the Makers Talks

5 January 2016: Niall Buggy
4 February 2016: Vicky Featherstone
17 February 2016: David Ireland
14 March 2016: Sean Holmes
6 April 2016: Eileen Walsh
27 April 2016: Hilda Fay
23 May 2016: Marty Rea
24 May 2016: Raymond Scannell
30 June 2016: Aisling O’Sullivan
19 August 2016: Andy Kellegher
23 August 2016: Paul Kennedy
23 August 2016: Marcus Lamb
26 August 2016: Iarla McGowan
1 September 2016: Donal Gallery
2 September 2016: Jonny Holden
28 September 2016: Carmel Winters
12 October 2016: Fiach Mac Conghail
4 November 2016: Killian Donnelly

From the Talks Archive

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2016: Irish Language Talks: Manchán Magan, Mary Louise McCarthy, Séamas Barra Ó Suilleabháin, Enda Reilly and Ronan Ó Snodaigh
30 June 2016: Tom Murphy’s Melodies
13 May 2016: Songs in the Key of Equality: Romeo and Juliet with Ruth McGill, Úna Kavanagh, Natalie Radmall-Quirke. 
16 May 2016: Alice in Funderland cast Paul Reid and Sarah Greene
17 May 2016 : Pride Broadcast: Maria Doyle Kennedy & Kieran Kennedy
18 May 2016: Silver Stars: Seán Millar with Brokentalkers
20 May 2016: The Internationale from The Risen People

Live Talks

28 April 2016: The Abbey Rebels and Easter 1916 with Fearghal McGarry
28 April 2016: Helena Molony: Abbey Rebel with Nell Regan

Post-show Talks

THEATREclub
23 November 2016: HEROIN: Post-show
25 November 2016: HISTORY Post-show
26 November 2016: TRILOGY Post-show

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Gender Equality

 

The pertinent and timely 'Gender Counts' Report was published in June 2017. It was commissioned by #WakingTheFeminists and funded by the Arts Council, in light of the public recognition of the overall under-representation of women in Irish theatre. The Report shows clearly the distance to be travelled, by Irish theatre, and by the Abbey Theatre, to achieve greater gender equality. It points to the value of regular analysis of statistics to monitor progress.

The Abbey, in response to the issues outlined during #WakingTheFeminists campaign, has put in place a series of measures, including 'Eight Guiding Principles on Gender Equality' to demonstrate its commitment to achieving greater gender equality. The associated set of metrics are designed to allow the Abbey to evaluate progress and to evolve its practices, where required.

The Abbey Theatre is implementing its policies by publishing in this Annual Report the gender representation across the organisation's programme for 2016. Clearly the 2016 programme pre-dates the Abbey’s strategic focus on gender equality and diversity, and was the year in which the Theatre acknowledged openly the shortcomings of that programme. This is particularly notable in relation to Directors and Authors. The Board is pleased to note that the 2017 programme is already achieving more balanced representation, across a series of artistic roles; for example, 50% of plays are directed by women. In future Annual Reports, the annual count will be presented alongside data for previous years.

We look forward to working with our colleagues in the Irish theatre community to achieve greater gender equality, as part of our collective efforts to transform Irish theatre.

 

Female Representation at the Abbey in 2016

Director Writer Cast Stage Manager Set Designer Lighting Sound Costume
27% 26% 40% 55% 43% 43% 26% 100%
Director 27%
Writer 26%
Cast 40%
Stage Manager 55%
Set Designer 43%
Lighting 43%
Sound 26%
Costume 100%
 

The Abbey Theatre’s Guiding Principles on Gender Equality

Following consultation with key stakeholders within the Arts and theatre industry, the Abbey Theatre’s Gender Equality Committee has developed a set of guiding principles to ensure that Gender Equality is both embraced and enshrined at the national theatre.

i. Update the mission statement and other key documents within the Abbey Theatre to specifically reflect a goal of gender equality. The key documents include:

  • The Mission Statement of the Abbey Theatre
  • The Memorandum and Articles of Association

ii. To put gender equality as a key board priority and responsibility, meaning that gender equality will become a permanent board agenda item with immediate effect. 

iii. The Abbey Theatre commits to continued gender equality at board level.

iv. To achieve gender equality in all areas of the artistic programme over the next five years by presenting more work led by female theatre practitioners. Gender equality will be measured in five year periods starting from 2017. There will be ongoing flexibility within programming for a given year but over the course of each five year period the artistic programme will achieve gender balance.

v. The Abbey Theatre commits to gender equality in the play commissioning process.

vi. The Abbey Theatre undertakes to deliver a workshop programme for all employees, examining issues of gender equality in the workplace.

vii. With a view to raising awareness of the career opportunities for women in theatre, the Abbey Theatre will create an annual programme for second level students within the National Theatre.

viii. Progress made by our gender equality initiatives will be specifically reported in the Abbey Theatre’s Annual Report. This recommendation will ensure that both the focus and progress on achieving gender equality at the national theatre will be documented and detailed within the Annual Report thus ensuring that there is clear visibility on this journey. The 2016 Annual Report will contain the first update on gender equality.

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