Druid to host two world premieres
Druid has announced a remarkable season of new Irish writing for Galway International Arts Festival 2018.
The Mick Lally Theatre on Druid Lane will be a hub of new work during the festival with four new plays, four directors and over a dozen actors presenting several daily performances, over 17 days.
Druid will presents two world premieres: Furniture by Sonya Kelly; and Shelter, the professional debut from playwright Cristín Kehoe.
Both plays received staged readings in 2016 and 2017 respectively as part of the Druid Debut process. The plays are stories of our time, told with humour and sensitivity, exploring opposite ends of the spectrum of modern Ireland: from people who covet possessions to people who are homeless and disenfranchised.
Furniture is a comedy told through the lives of six individuals, and looks at how the things we own shape our worldview and even ourselves. The play is directed by Cathal Cleary with a cast of Niall Buggy, Peter Campion, Garrett Lombard, Clare Monnelly, Rebecca O’Mara and Aisling O’Sullivan.
Shelter is a portrait of life on the edge. Fus is hiding out in a disused warehouse when he learns that Tommy has lost his job and their hideaway is under threat. As friends trickle through the building, they drink, dance, row and reminisce while the clock counts down.
Oonagh Murphy directs, and the cast includes Brendan Conroy, Lauren Larkin, Aaron Monaghan and Rory Nolan.
The GIAF 2018 season of new Irish work continues a busy year for Druid, following a sell-out run of Sive at The Gaiety Theatre, ongoing international success for Waiting for Godot, and the highly anticipated DruidShakespeare: Richard III in the Autumn.