Cillian Murphy and Stephen Rae, two of Ireland’s most famous actors will star in Ballyturk, a new play by Enda Walsh, which will have its world premiere at this summer’s Galway Arts Festival.
Ballyturk runs at the Black Box Theatre from Thursday 10 July to Sunday 27, with the official world premiere scheduled for Monday 14 July, the opening night of the festival.
The play, which will also star Mikel Murfi, a significant presence in Irish theatre for more than 20 years, is a Galway Arts Festival and Landmark Productions co-production. This is the second co-production between the two organisations, following 2011’s acclaimed Misterman, also written by Walsh and starring Cillian Murphy in a tour-de-force solo performance.
“I'm delighted to have been given the opportunity of reuniting with friends and making Ballyturk,” said Enda Walsh. “Two years in its dreaming and making, come July it will be a very exciting moment for all of us to share this production with audiences.”
The play is Enda’s first new play in four years and his first since he won a Tony Award for Once, the Broadway musical, currently running in New York, London’s West End, and on a major US tour.
Cillian Murphy won wide acclaim for his recent performance as the troubled Thomas Shelby in the BBC hit television programme, Peaky Blinders. Mikel Murfi is currently touring in his production of his one-man show The Man In The Woman’s Shoes. Stephen Rea featured in Field Day Theatre Company’s latest production of Sam Shepard’s A Particle of Dread.
The production will be directed by Enda Walsh with sets and costumes designed by Jamie Vartan and lighting by Adam Silverman. Sound will be designed by Helen Atkinson, with original music composed by Teho Teardo.
Tickets are now available through www.galwayartsfestival.com and the Town Hall Theatre on www.tht.ie or 091 - 569777.