The Abbey Theatre, Ireland’s national theatre, is delighted to announce the nationwide tour of Carmel Winters’ much applauded production of B for Baby from August to November of this year. Directed by Mikel Murfi, the first stage of the B for Baby tour started on Thursday August 4 in the Tampere Theatre Festival in Finland. From there the tour returned to Ireland to begin the nationwide run, covering the length and breadth of Ireland, taking in 14 venues in total. These include theatres in Meath, Laois, Louth, Kerry, Antrim, Donegal, Sligo, Waterford, Carlow, Wicklow, Longford, Cork, Galway, Dublin and of course, Roscommon with a performance at Roscommon Arts Centre on Friday September 30 and Saturday October 1 at 8pm.
Artistic director of the Abbey Theatre, Fiach Mac Conghail, said, “I am extremely proud that the Abbey Theatre is undertaking a nationwide tour of B for Baby by Carmel Winters. B for Baby is an award winning production and is testament to Carmel Winters’ talent as an exciting new playwright. It is vital for the Abbey Theatre to produce new work and to tour nationally and internationally. As the national theatre we continue to work to extend the life-span of a new play, highlighted by the success of Mark O’Rowe’s Terminus which recently finished a 99-date tour in Sydney, Australia.”
B for Baby stars Louis Lovett (B and Brian ) and Michele Moran (D and Mrs C ) who showcase their acting talents in playing two roles each. In the play, Mrs C wants a baby and not a Christmas tree. B wants a real hairdressers’ scissors and a wife. D wants a snow globe and a ‘big head of dirty auld curls’. All of them want their own place in the world. And if they can’t find it, they’ll create one of their own. Join B and D in the care home where they are residents, and where Mrs C is a carer, on their special – ‘very fecking special’ – journey towards happiness.
Winner of The Irish Times Best New Play award in 2010, B for Baby has been described as “a solid evening’s entertainment” and a “wonderful bundle of perturbing laughs”.
B for Baby was Carmel Winters’ first play at the Abbey Theatre and her first full-length play to be professionally produced. Originally commissioned by Theatre Lovett, set and costume design is by Sabine Dargent and lighting design by Paul Keogan. The Abbey Theatre acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council and Culture Ireland.
For tickets for the Roscommon shows on Friday September 30 and Saturday October 1, please call the box office at (090 ) 6625824.
