The Abbey Theatre Presents THE LOST O'CASEY

This month, the Abbey Theatre invites audiences to jump start a thrilling multi-part project from award-winning multidisciplinary company ANU. The Lost O'Casey reframes a rarely published Sean O'Casey play, exploring motherhood and addiction, as a searing call to action. Audiences are invited to tumble through the private recesses of the Abbey Theatre to 'experience' the play and engage with the contemporary changing landscape of Dublin.

Produced only once at the Abbey Theatre in 1924, Sean O'Casey's Nannie's Night Out had multiple endings - "the ending I wanted, the ending they wanted and the compromise." Utilising O'Casey's necessity for the alternative endings in the original, ANU now recover and present this previously neglected play at the heart of the geography and architecture of Dublin's north inner city.

"Repositioning the character of Nannie, and all that she represents, at the centre of this work and on the stage of our national theatre is vital. The Lost O'Casey is asking audiences to look at this woman and to really see her; to witness her experiences, to examine her environment and to acknowledge her circumstances through a contemporary lens. Join us in this call to action, it is long overdue and the time is now." Lynnette Moran, Creative Producer at ANU.

ANU are a multidisciplinary company, cross-pollinating theatre, visual art and dance. Building a reputation for creating transformative experiences in unconventional sites, they challenge theatrical conventions by blurring the lines between immersive and site-specific practice.

"ANU have been blazing a trail with audiences since World's End Lane in 2010. They have taught us about the hidden history of Ireland, the difficult subjects we prefer to ignore. ANU's approach demands our attention; provoking audience members to participate, to observe, to dive in. We are thrilled to have them work with us at the Abbey and to explore this often ignored O'Casey play Nannie's Night Out. We know it will breathe new life in to the piece and will continue to keep O'Casey as relevant to contemporary Ireland as he was in 1924." Jen Coppinger, Head of Producing at the Abbey Theatre.

The Lost O'Casey at the Abbey Theatre is part one of a larger project that will also explore language and the city. ANU will continue developing this work over the coming months, with a series of salons and enquiries across the Dublin 1 area and a final presentation in autumn 2018.

Running from 25 - 30 June, there are 4 performances of The Lost O'Casey at the Abbey Theatre a day, some of which are for community groups and others for members of the public. Tickets are now sold out, and the theatre will operate a returns list on the day of each performance.

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