DRUID THEATRE will celebrate its coral anniversary - the 35th anniversary of its founding in Galway city in 1975 - with a major performance featuring excerpts from the great Irish plays, performed by many of this country’s finest actors and actresses.
From Galway to Broadway & Back Again - Druid’s 35th Anniversary Celebration will take place in the Town Hall Theatre on Friday May 21 at 8pm and on Saturday 22 at 4.30pm and 8pm. The show will be directed by Garry Hynes and Mikel Murfi.
At the show, there will be performances of excerpts from The Playboy of the Western World by JM Synge, Conversations on a Homecoming by Tom Murphy, The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh, The Walworth Farce by Enda Walsh, Sive by John B Keane, and At The Black Pig’s Dyke by Vincent Woods.
The excerpts will be performed by a first class roster of actors and actresses such as Cillian Murphy, Eamon Morrissey, Marie Mullen, Mikel Murfi, Sean McGinley, Tadhg Murphy, Aaron Monaghan, Catherine Walsh, Clare Dunne, Deirdre O’Kane, Denis Conway, Derbhle Crotty, Garrett Lombard, Jane Brennan, Raymond Scannell, and Rebecca Bartlett.
Enda Walsh will read a short excerpt from his new play, Penelope, which will be premiered at this year’s Galway Arts Festival before touring Ireland and overseas. Fellow writers Geraldine Aron and Tom Murphy will also be in Galway for the event.
A few months ago, Druid asked members of the public to cast their vote for the production they would most like to see on the night. Druid has been inundated with people sharing memories of their experiences of the various productions over the years and the play which has received the most votes will be revealed on the night and a short excerpt will be performed.
“For both ourselves and our audiences this is an opportunity to revisit some of our favourite moments from some of our favourite productions,” said Garry Hynes, who is also Druid’s artistic director.
In addition to celebrating the company’s birthday, the event is also an opportunity for Druid to raise funds for its Education Outreach Initiative and its ongoing New Writing Programme.
As part of Druid’s Education Outreach programme for its production of The Silver Tassie by Seán O’Casey this autumn, the company is developing a series of workshops for young people in Galway and Oxford.
Druid is working with the Education and Outreach Department at the Oxford Playhouse, where it has toured in recent years. Going into a number of schools in Galway city and county, this project will offer children the chance to work with Druid actors and workshop leaders and get a first hand understanding of making theatre in a world class theatre company.
Tickets are available for the From Galway to Broadway & Back Again - Druid’s 35th Anniversary Celebration show from the Town Hall on 091 - 569777.
