News
Last Update: Tuesday, May 20, 2008.
Coup for Skibbereen as "Waiting for Godot" to play in Town Hall
At the launch in the Royal College of Physicians, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Martin Cullen, announced full details of the 40 venues for this unique 32-county tour. These include the Everyman Palace Theatre in Cork City on Monday, September 15, and Skibbereen Town Hall on Tuesday 16th. Tickets for these shows are already on sale at the usual outlets and demand is expected to be huge for them. In September and October of this year, the Gate Theatre will embark on its first ever all-Ireland tour, as part of the theatre’s 80th anniversary celebrations, with ‘Waiting for Godot’ touring to 40 venues across the 32 counties of Ireland, playing for one night only in each venue. This first-of-its-kind tour will take a hub-and-spoke format, i.e. on a nightly basis the company will travel to the different venues from a base or central location, where they will stay for one week at a time. Beginning in Enniscorthy and ending in Enniskillen, from the source of the formation of the Gate Theatre (where MacLíammóir and Edwards conceived the Gate Theatre) to the source of Beckett’s genius (where he attended Portora School from 1920 to 1923), the tour, which will also mark the 20th anniversary of this now legendary production, will star the original cast members. The Gate Theatre is extremely grateful to its partners Ulster Bank, the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Arts Council for their generous support, without which this tour would not be possible. Michael Colgan, director of the Gate, added: “I am delighted that these respected institutions, who have all played such a significant role in supporting, not only the Gate, but the arts in general, have agreed to come on board and help with such an exciting and unique event”. Cormac McCarthy, chief executive of the Ulster Bank Group, said: “We are very proud to support the Gate Theatre's national tour, taking this much-acclaimed production to communities across the island. This announcement marks a new era for our relationship with the Gate Theatre, of which we have been proud sponsors for more than ten years.” In 1987, Samuel Beckett suggested that Michael Colgan would produce ‘Waiting for Godot’ at the Gate and requested that Walter Asmus - his assistant director on the famous Schiller Theatre production - direct. Hailed by the international press as “the definitive Godot,” this production has since toured all over the world, including China, Melbourne and Toronto, receiving unprecedented critical acclaim. It was also a central part of the Gate’s Beckett Festivals in Dublin (1991 and 2006), New York (1996) and London (1999 and 2006). Tickets for ‘Waiting for Godot’ are on sale nationwide and are available at all host venues across the country, with the outlet for the Skibbereen Town Hall show being Thornhill Electrical, telephone 028-22557. This will be the opening show in an extensive autumn season that is currently being booked for the venue, which will be undergoing further refurbishment works during the summer months. For more details see www.godotontour.ie
|
Declan Hassett's Survivors
Set against the backdrop of one of the most turbulent and exciting periods in Irish history, from the sinking of the ‘Titanic’ to the Civil War in Ireland, Declan Hassett's powerful new play ‘Survivors’, traces the fortunes of a West Cork family, who battle against cruel fate as a nation staggers to freedom and independence. Fresh from the success of a critically-acclaimed run in New York of his play ‘Sisters’ starring Anna Manahan (nominated for a prestigeous Drama Desk award), Declan teams up with renowned director Michael Twomey and Skylight Productions to bring this enthralling piece of theatre to Skibbereen in mid-April and Macroom later in the month. Directed by Michael Twomey, nearly one hundred years on, the play has resonance for modern Ireland and its challenges. The cast includes Ronnie O'Shaughnessy, Conor Dwane, Lorraine Manley, Fiona O’ Leary, Kevin O'Meara, Linda Kent, Don Morrissey, Dave Hackett, Charlie Nolan and Luke Carey Murphy Tickets are available from Thornhill Electrical, Skibbereen, 028-22557. Also playing at Skibbereen Town Hall in April |
"Canaries" back by popular demand, Thur/Fri 27-28 DecemberSkibbereen Theatre Society will be presenting its latest production, "Canaries", a good, light comedy written by Bernard Farrell, at the Town Hall this coming Thursday and Friday, December 27th and 28th.Directed by Catherine Field, it has a cast of twelve people and is about a group of Irish people holidaying in the Canaries. As the action unfolds, it emerges that many of the characters are not all they seem to be, with hilarious consequences. Tickets will be available in advance through the usual outlet, Thornhill Electrical, Skibbereen, telephone 028-22557.
|
"Surviving Santa Ponsa" at Skibbereen Town HallFollowing a hugely-successful run at the Everyman Palace Theatre in Cork, Frank Twomey and Pakie O'Callaghan are taking to the road with "Surviving Santa Ponsa"This Friday, November 2, the audience at Skibbereen Town Hall will have a chance to see the uproariously-funny sequel to last year's smash hit "Santa Ponsa or Bust" Written by Frank Twomey and Pakie O'Callaghan the play began life as a radio soap on 96 FM and immediately grabbed the attention of Cork audiences. The stage version of "Surviving Santa Ponsa" became one of the most successful home-grown comedies in the Everyman Palace Theatre's history. "Surviving Santa Ponsa" charts the adventures of two hapless Cork couples. With their husbands locked up in a Spanish jail, the two "auld dolls" have acquired two million euro by rather dubious means! Suddenly frolicking in Brown Thomas, luring TV celebs into their homes and all the while under the close scrutiny of ruthless villain Hans Von Snicht. Will spendthrift Noreen and nymphomaniac Carmel have spent the dosh and done the dirt before Finbarr and John get out of the slammer? The excesses of Celtic Tiger Ireland are put under the spotlight and mercilessly lampooned in this wildly funny show. "Surviving Santa Ponsa" is directed by Michael Twomey, with set design by Lisa Zagone, lighting design is by Paul McCarthy and sound design by Barbara Szecsenyi. Tickets for the Skibbereen show are available in advance from Thornhill Electrical, telephone 028-22557, or at the Town Hall box office from 7.30pm this Friday evening.
|
Plenty of fun in Autumn 2007 Skibbereen Town Hall schedule!
She is directed by Ronan Wilmot, who starred in "The Tailor and Ansty" at the Town Hall this time last year and in Gougane Barra the two previous summers. The story is about Shirley, who is a middle-aged Liverpool housewife, stuck in a rut. But when her best friend wins an all-expenses paid trip for two to Greece, she begins to see the world, and herself, in a very different light. Brimming with forthright comedy and pithy observations, Willy Russell's landmark play about a woman reclaiming her identity and self-confidence reflects many of the challenges of modern life in Ireland today. Native Liverpudlian, Nicola Hollinshead started her professional career at Liverpool Everyman Theatre. She has worked on the award-winning series"Boys from the Black Stuff" and with Jimmy Mc Govern in "City Echoes" Television credits include "Brookside" and she will next be seen alongside Julie Walters in BBC2's new drama "Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story," to be screened later this year. Tickets for the Skibbereen staging of "Shirley Valentine" on the 18th are available in advance through Thornhill Electrical on 028-22557 and curtain up will be at 8pm. Advance booking is strongly advised for this. COMING IN NOVEMBER Pakie O'Callaghan and Frank Twomey in their brand new SANTA PONSA show. Skibbereen Theatre Society presents the Bernard Farrell comedy CANARIES. SHIRLEY VALENTINE reviews
Nicola Hollinshead, directed by Ronan Wilmot, gives the performance of
any actor's life, seducing the audience from the start with a highly
individual blend of character, comic observation and self-analysis.
Ronan Wilmot establishes a confessional mood- fitting given the
anecdotal style of the narrative- and Hollinshead is compelling....
She has a sure grip on Shirley's feisty, self-deprecating persona, and
convincingly segues between coarse humour and touching pathos, giving
voice to Russell's poetry of the vernacular.
You will rarely see a better solo performance than Nicola Hollinshead
gives in this very funny, beautifully observed and occasionally moving
one-woman play.
The accomplished performance of Nicola Hollinshead as Shirley will
have your memory of Pauline Collins fading as quickly as your memory
of last year's sun-drenched package holiday. |
Othello for Skibbereen, October 9-11thCork Opera House and Janus Theatre Company announce their production of Shakespeare's Othello. Belinda Wild will direct a cast of seven actors inhabiting more than twenty symbolic masks that are a crucial element of the production.Othello will tour to Briery Gap, Macroom; Fermoy Community Centre; Skibbereen Town Hall, and also play in both the Cork Opera House mainstage and the Half Moon Theatre. Performances begin on 12 September in Macroom and will continue around the County through October. Shakespeare's great tragedy tells the story of one man's relentless pursuit by another. In this production, the masks will enhance the grotesque and deeply symbolic nature of Othello, and enable the actors to access the deep emotional undercurrent of the play, and expose the uncomfortable emotions that inform it. Underscored with an original soundtrack, the production invites us to observe what motivates our actions and to examine their consequences. Director Belinda Wild formed Janus Theatre Company in 1997 to present innovative new work devised by the company, as well as imaginative interpretations of the classics. Based in Enniskeane, Co. Cork, the company aims to provide exciting professional theatre at a local level, and employment for actors and theatre workers based in Co. Cork. Ms. Wild has created numerous dynamic productions for and with Cork Opera House, including the national tour of Lifeboat (2006/07); King Lear (2005);Hamlet (2004); The Merchant of Venice (2003), The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2002), and Romeo and Juliet (2001). Support from Cork County Council has made the county tour possible.
Directed by Belinda Wild
All tickets €20 (internet & telephone bookings subject to booking fee of €2.50 per ticket)
BRIERY GAP, MACROOM: Wed 12 - Fri 14 Sep at 10:30am and Thu 13 Sep at 8pm |