THIS YEAR will finally see the reopening of the Druid theatre following an extensive refurbishment, while the company itself is set to give 335 performances in 26 venues in Ireland, Britain, the USA, Canada, and Australia.
The refurbished Druid theatre at Chapel Lane will be officially reopened with a production of The Gigli Concert by Tom Murphy as part of the Galway Arts Festival from July 14 to 25. It will return to the Town Hall from August 4 to 8.
This will be the first time Druid haave performed this work. The production will revive the relationship between Murphy and Druid who worked together on Conversations On A Homecoming and Bailegangaire.
“I am truly delighted to be reopening our newly refurbished theatre with this brilliant play by Tom Murphy and to be working with Tom again,” said Druid’s artistic director Garry Hynes.
“This building holds the memories of 30 years of magical moments out of our 34-year history and I look forward to welcoming audiences, actors, writers, and funders to be a part of creating many more.”
Druid has also acknowledged the funding received from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and Galway City Council towards the refurbishment of their theatre, and has expressed its continuing gratitude to Thomas McDonogh & Company Ltd.
Druid’s production of Enda Walsh’s The New Electric Ballroom is currently running at the Riverside Studios, London until March 29 before it returns to Ireland in April for an Irish tour. It will be staged in the Town Hall Theatre from April 15 to 19.
The New Electric Ballroom will receive its American premiere later in New York and Los Angeles. Walsh’s The Walworth Farce will embark on an autumn tour of Britain, USA, and Canada. An Australian and New Zealand tour is scheduled for 2010.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of JM Synge’s death (March 24 1909 ), Druid will present its acclaimed production of DruidSynge: The Playboy of the Western World in in the Town Hall Theatre from June 2 to 6.
Druid will also give a series of readings from Synge’s prose, poetry, and plays on Sunday, July 24, also as part of Galway Arts Festival. The arts festival will also see the Druid Debuts series of plays from July 20 to 24.
