The Plough and the Stars | Abbey Theatre

Coming Soon

Coming soon to the national theatre - The Abbey Theatre - is a major production of a true classic: The Plough and the Stars, by Sean O'Casey.

In 1926, Sean O’Casey’s masterpiece The Plough and the Stars premiered at the Abbey Theatre amid riots and complaints from audiences who rejected its interpretation of recent history. Since then the play has become a classic of the Irish drama repertoire and this Abbey Theatre revival follows a hugely successful 2010 production directed by Wayne Jordan.

As work will be taking place in the Abbey auditorium at the time, The Plough and the Stars will open at the nearby OReilly Theatre, Belvedere, Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1 on 1 August (previews from 26 July) until 15 September. The Abbey auditorium will re-open in mid-September in time for productions on the Abbey and Peacock stages for the Dublin Theatre Festival.

Set amid the tumult of the 1916 Rising, The Plough and the Stars is the story of the ordinary lives ripped apart amid the idealism of the time.

Following its Dublin run the Abbey will embark on an Irish and UK tour which will include; The Grand Opera House in Belfast, An Grianán in Letterkenny, Cambridge Arts Centre, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Theatre Royal in Bath, Siamsa Tíre in Tralee and The Lime Tree in Limerick.

Fiach Mac Conghail, Director of the Abbey Theatre said, “I believe every generation should see The Plough and the Stars. With Wayne Jordan, Associate Artist at the Abbey directing, we have a new generation looking at this play with fresh eyes. I’m delighted we are touring Ireland and the UK with this important play”.

Wayne has gathered together a sterling cast and creative team for this production. Cast includes Barry Ward (as Jack Clitheroe), Kelly Campbell (as Nora Clitheroe), Frankie McCafferty (as Peter Flynn), Laurence Kinlan (as The Young Covey), Gabrielle Reidy (as Bessie Burgess) Deirdre Molloy (as Mrs Gogan), Roxanna Nic Liam (as Mollser), Joe Hanley (as Fluther Good), Mark Fitzgerald (as Lieut. Langon), Dara Devaney (as Capt. Brennan), Gavin Fullam (as Corporal Stoddart), Keith Hanna (as Sergeant Tinley), Kate Brennan, (as Rosie Redmond), Tony Flynn (as a Bar-tender), Gillian McCarthy (as The Woman from Rathmines) and Karl Quinn (as The Figure in the Window).

The creative team for the production includes Set design by Tom Piper, Lighting design by Sinéad Mc Kenna, Costume design by Joan O’Clery, the Composer is Conor Linehan, Sound design is by Ben Delaney, Movement director is Sue Mythen and the Design assistant is Lily Arnold.

Sean O’Casey’s work is synonymous with the Abbey Theatre, his plays The Shadow of a Gunman (1923), Juno and the Paycock (1924) and The Plough and the Stars (1926) all premiered at the Abbey Theatre. A co-production between the Abbey Theatre and the National Theatre of Great Britain of O’Casey’s Juno and the Paycock completed its run in London in February 2012. Over 60,000 people saw the production between Dublin and London, including two Irish Presidents; Mary McAleese and Michael D. Higgins.

Booking and further information on www.abbeytheatre.ie.

Monday – Saturday evening 8pm, Saturday matinees 3pm.

Ticket prices: €18 - €35 /Conc. €13 - €25

Story by EI Team | 09:00 | Monday 2nd July 2012 | Theatre

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