Ireland Reviews

Writer: Dennis Kelly Director: Cathal Cleary Reviewer: Laura Marriott   It is very unusual that one sees a theatre production that is truly unique, however Reality Check’s opening night of Debris, at Smock Alley Theatre, really was a one-of-a-kind night of entertainment. Debris has a powerful opening. Shane O’Regan, playing the sixteen year old Michael, takes to the stage and ...

Writer: Caitríona Daly Director: Maisie Lee Reviewer: Ciarán Leinster Lunchtime theatre has made a welcome return to Bewley’s on Grafton Street with an intense, ambiguous production that allows actors Karen Ardiff (Phil) and Caoimhe O’Malley (Helen) to flourish in their respective roles as mother and girlfriend to an unseen man with autism, Gary. While the play does not quite live ...

Writer: John Osborne  Director: Annabelle Comyn Reviewer: Ciara L. Murphy It is always a risk to tackle one of the great, and well-worn classics, but this is something that the Gate Theatre is renowned for. However, Selina Cartmell’s inaugural season is illustrating that she is willing to take the necessary steps to bring the Gate into the twenty-first century. Previously ...

Writer: Megan O’Malley Director: Fiona Frawley Reviewer: Laura Marriott Who is innocent and who is guilty? Only you can decide. Home is the sort of play that when you think you have everything figured out it turns around and surprises you. Showing at Dublin’s The New Theatre Home also introduces the talent of writer (and performer) Megan O’Malley. Tackling head ...

Writer: John O’Donovan Director: Tom Martin Reviewer: David Keane Coldness hangs in the air above the rooftops of Ennis on Halloween night. Blue flashing lights and the sound of gardaí cars herald the arrival of two young men, scampering onto the roof of a house to avoid the law enforcement below. The adrenaline is almost palpable and soon to be ...

HOME is premiering in The New Theatre next week. Presented as a work in progress at last year’s Scene + Heard festival, Handy Baker Theatre Company are bringing a full production of this work to Irish audiences. Dealing with the topical issue of abortion in Ireland, HOME places its audience in the unique position of become both judge and jury ...

Writer: Sophia Leuner Director: Billie De Buitlear Reviewer: Laura Marriott Two Londoners find themselves having to decide whether it is time to move on. Two former best friends in Dublin look to see whether tragedy can bring them together once more. Save + Quit are two short plays connected by themes of moving on; of closing one chapter in life and ...

Writer: Dermot Bolger Director: Mark O’Brien Reviewer: Saoirse Anton From Wyoming to Whitehall, the well known Dublin character Thomas “Bang Bang” Dudley kept the streets of Dublin safe with his “trusty, rusty key,” for decades. Travelling on the trams and buses of the city, Bang Bang would leap out, point his Colt ’45 key at passers-by and shoot them with ...