What a summer we’ve had at The New Theatre! Have a look back at the season’s highlights. What were your favourites?
JUNE
This month we brought our popular production of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, adapted by Tony Chesterman and directed by Jimmy Fay, to the Centre Culturel Irlandais, in Paris.
The run there was short but very special. The reception from the full houses were overwhelmingly positive, and the welcome from the team at the Centre Culturel was extremely warm. It will be difficult to top playing in an atmospheric chapel.
Postscript by Noelle Brown and Michéle Forbes, dealt with some difficult themes and attracted praise for its handling and powerful presentation.
“a moving story stoically enacted by Brown and Bríd Ní Neachtain, who beautifully brings to life the letters that form the linchpin of Browne’s journey…..powerful piece of work.” – The Irish Times
“A gentle, sad, funny delight” – Sunday Independent
Mouth On Fire returned to The New Theatre with their Irish language version of Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape – Téip Dheireanach Krapp Traschruthaithe ag Gabriel Rosenstock
(image by John Minihan)
***** – An Tuairisceoir
“Macdara Ó Fátharta’s performance captures perfectly the trembling but deliberate movements of an old man. His Connemara lilt drawing attention to the music of Beckett’s language, rolling his words and drawing out his vowels.
… a perfect taste of Beckett even for those of us with imperfect Irish.”
– No More Workhorse
July
Our production of The Assassination of Brian Boru by Lauren Shannon Jones and directed by Nora kelly Lester returned due to popular demand.
“Lauren-Shannon Jones’s play is entertaining, well-cast and very well written.” ****
– Michael Moffatt, Evoke.ie
“The Assassination of Brian Boru succeeds in bringing a good story back to the Irish stage… Kenny and Mac Suibhne portray their belligerent Viking characters in a way that is hard, soft, brutal and kind all at the same time. It is the depth of these characters that encourage the audience to invest in the story of these two brothers.”
– Ciara Murphy, The Public reviews.
“Mac Suibhne has an intensity that underpins the nature of Ospak, and his acting never wastes any movement, each thoughtful and in keeping with the moment, giving an artistry to his interpretation. Both actors create a clear, sobering moment in the final scene.”
– Alan Foran, The Red Curtain Review.
Anam Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of Low Level Panic by Clare McIntyre was to be seen on our stage this month.
“brave and ambitious” – NO MORE WORKHORSE
“A cruel wit…. an impressive set and intelligent social commentary …. ambitious” – Kate Coleman LE COOL
“Anam’s innovative production succeeds in balancing high entertainment with a probing of issues that are becoming more and more pressing in our contemporary mediatised culture.” ****½ – thepublicreviews.com
“Anam Theatre anatomises this uncompromising text with a rattling urgency while celebrating the simmering comedy around which Clare McIntyre wraps her feminist missile.” – IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE
August
PurpleHeart returned with Stewart Roche’s latest offering, Tracer .
“a theatre company that are worth looking out for…
… an incredible piece of new theatre.” – In Dublin
full review
“It is very funny yet it manages to keep up an air of mystery and tension. This is an impressive piece of new writing that deserves to be seen by a wider audience. It is an unusual concept, to have a funny thriller, a play with as many twists as there are gags…… very enjoyable, get along to it if you can.” – No More Workhorse
“I am a fan of Roches’ witty writing style, which does come across really well in this piece…the authenticity that the actors bring to their roles is superb. ‘Tracer’ is an enjoyable piece of theatre with a strong and talented cast. Setting aside an evening to see the show in the charming New Theatre would be an evening well spent.” – EILE Magazine
Autumn Season at The New Theatre
We look forward to the new season, which kicked off with the energetic buzz of the Tiger Dublin Fringe, and to our new production – Friendly Fire by Gerard Humphreys, starting monday, as well as many exciting shows and films, from familiar faces and new friends alike.
