The centrepiece of the Irish theatre calendar, the Dublin Theatre Festival returns in 2012 from 27th September - 14th October in venues across Dublin. This year the Dublin Theatre Festival will celebrate 'Your City, Your Stories', putting Dublin at the very heart of this 18 day theatrical spectacular.
The Festival continues its important work of showcasing new work from many of the leading and new Irish theatre companies and writers, including The Corn Exchange, Hatch Theatre Company and Landmark Productions, Pan Pan, The Gate Theatre, the Abbey Theatre, Tall Tales Theatre Company and Solstice Arts Centre, ANU Productions, The Company, Theatre Lovett, Brokentalkers, Dylan Tighe, Red Kettle and Garter Lane. The programme includes the only Dublin dates for the hugely successful DruidMurphy and the debut production from new Irish Opera company Wide Open Opera.
Some of the world's leading theatre companies and practitioners will visit Dublin for this 18 day celebration of theatre including the first visit to Ireland by renowned US company The Wooster Group, the return of Elevator Repair Service (who brought Gatz to the Festival in 2008), Forced Entertainment (UK) and Winner of Scotsman Fringe First Award 2009, Inua Ellams. Audiences will have the opportunity to see three successful productions from the last 12 months again when they are restaged as part of the ReViewed showcase in partnership with Culture Ireland and Irish Theatre Institute.
The Festival is setting out to capture the changing mood of Dublin. A giant neon smiley face, Public Face III, will adorn Dublin's skyline during the Festival which, using sophisticated software to read facial expressions of passersby, will capture the humour of Dublin and Dubliners throughout the day and night. Young and family audiences can experience the best of international productions from Scotland, Belgium and the UK as part of the Family Season at The Ark. An exciting programme of special events will encourage audiences to offer their opinions, debate and discuss.
Booking opens to the general public on the 15th August. Priority booking for friends of the Festival commences 26th July.
