Verdant Productions
In association with University College Dublin [UCD] & MCD
present
SIGNATORIES
A new work from UCD writers: Emma Donoghue, Thomas Kilroy, Hugo Hamilton, Frank McGuinness, Rachel Fehily, Eilis Ni Dhuibhne, Marina Carr and Joseph O’Connor
Olympia Theatre 4 – 8 October 2016
Directed by Patrick Mason
Costume Design by Catherine Fay Music & Sound Design by Denis Clohessy
Performed by Barbara Brennan, Roseanna Purcell, Stephen Jones, Shane O’Reilly, Joe Taylor, Ronan Leahy
Breaking boundaries in theatre, literature and performance, Verdant Productions in association with UCD are delighted to announce that Signatories, a major theatrical interpretation to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising, will be revived at the Olympia Theatre this October following sold out shows at Kilmainham Gaol. Created by eight of Ireland’s most acclaimed writers; Emma O’Donoghue, Thomas Kilroy, Hugo Hamilton, Frank McGuinness, Rachel Fehily, Éilís Ní Dhuibne, Marina Carr and Joseph O’Connor a theatrical interpretation to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising.
Signatories opens at the Olympia Theatre on Wednesday 5 October (preview Tuesday 4 October) and runs until Saturday 8 October 2016.
Tickets are available now from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and online at www.ticketmaster.ie priced €38.50/€33 including fee.
Having received its world premiere at Kilmainham Gaol for the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, (commissioned by UCD), these eight world-class Irish writers present the seven signatories of the Irish Proclamation, along with the interesting perspective of Nurse Elizabeth O’Farrell who delivered the surrender in the Easter Rising of 1916.
Performed in a series of monologues, this production brings the audience into their innermost thoughts and encapsulates the emotional turmoil caused by their self-sacrifice, as each writer presents an artistic response to the eight characters – sending out commands, lying in Kilmainham Gaol, facing the firing squad, ultimately being airbrushed out of public view and leaving a legacy to haunt future generations.
The signatories of the Irish Republic must have known that the Rising would be crushed militarily, would end in carnage and death and that if caught alive, they would themselves be executed. This exciting production, noted for its magnificent writing, will be directed by TONY Award-winning director, Patrick Mason, and will be delivered by some of the country’s most outstanding actors; Barbara Brennan who plays Nurse Elizabeth O’Farrell by Emma Donoghue; Roseanna Purcell who reads the piece of Sean McDermott written by Éilís Ní Dhuibne; Stephen Jones plays Thomas McDonagh by Marina Carr; Shane O’Reilly plays Joseph Mary Plunket by Joseph O’Connor; Joe Taylor plays Thomas Clarke written by Rachel Fehily; Ronan Leahy plays Éamonn Ceannt by Frank McGuinness;– all relay the voices that thread across deeply personal emotions from each historical Irish character.
UCD played a central role in the emergence of the Irish State – from the culturally-driven Gaelic Revival movement to the formation of the Irish Volunteers and Cumann na mBan; from the actual planning of the Easter Rising to the formation of the first Government; UCD lecturers, graduates and even students were all part of the story of Irish independence.
A seminal moment in the foundation of the Irish State and often referred to as “the poets’ rebellion”, among its leaders were UCD scholars of English literature, history and Irish. Even though its effects were deep and lasting, the revolt itself was ill-fated; and ended ignominiously after just six days with the rebels rounded up and their leaders sentenced to death.
The unique artistic composition of Signatories was a theatrical centrepiece of the 2016 commemorations, drawing great public interest, it presented an opportunity for intellectual discourse around the signatories of the proclamation that goes well beyond the circumstances of the Rising and places them in the wider cultural context.
Combining the skills of the best writers with this stellar cast – expect an extraordinary production and a special piece of theatre magic for 2016.
*Signatories is also available in a new book published by UCD to coincide with the production.
ABOUT THE WRITERS
Elizabeth O’Farrell by Emma Donoghue, who was nominated for an Oscar for her screenplay of her novel Room.
Padraig Pearse by Thomas Kilroy, whose awards include the Guardian Fiction Prize, the Heinemann Award for Literature, the AIG Literary Prize and the Irish PEN award.
James Connolly by Hugo Hamilton, winner of the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature, the Priz Femina Etranger, and the Premio Giuseppe Berto for French and Italian translations of his work.
Éamonn Ceannt by Frank McGuinness, TONY Award winner, New York Drama Critics Circle award winner, and Irish PEN award winner.
Thomas Clarke by Rachel Fehily. Rachel is a recent graduate of the UCD MA in Creative Writing and emerging talent in the Irish theatre scene.
Sean McDermott by Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, winner of the Bisto Book of the Year and the Irish PEN award, as well as shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction
Thomas MacDonagh by Marina Carr, winner of the EM Forster award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the Susan Smith Blackburn prize for women playwrights
Joseph Mary Plunkett by Joseph O’Connor, among his awards are France’s Prix Millepages, Italy’s Premio Acerbi, the Irish Post Award for Fiction, the Neilsen Bookscan Golden Book Award, an American Library Association Award, the Hennessy/Sunday Tribune Hall of Fame Award, and the Prix Litteraire Zepter for European Novel of the Year.
Reviews
“This is an ambitious and significant project…. melded into a theatrical whole, confidently and movingly.“The Irish Times *****
“this production is a perfection and a privilege: theatre, not history, but as thought-provoking as was the intent.” Sunday Independent
“ ‘Signatories’ is an unforgettable experience and a towering piece of theatre.” Irish Examiner *****
“If you love Ireland – or just great theatre – do NOT miss Signatories.
‘Signatories’ is a powerful production….does not disappoint.” Irish Mirror
“a memorable and unique theatrical experience” No More Workhorse
“magical…….” Irish Independent
LISTINGS INFORMATION
OLYMPIA THEATRE, Dublin
Preview Tuesday 4 October | 8.00pm | €28.50
Wednesday 5 – Saturday 8 October | 8.00pm €38.50/€33 (including booking and €1 restoration levy)
Box Office – Tel: 0818 719 300 – ROI / 0870 243 4455 – N. I. / +353 1 4858010 – Int’l Customers / www.ticketmaster.ie
Additional charges may apply for agent, phone or online bookings
Event date & time: 04.10.2016 at 20:00
More details