The Abbey Theatre to Stage World Premiere of SHIBBOLETH
By: Tyler Peterson Sep. 02, 2015
The Abbey Theatre is delighted to present the world premiere of Shibboleth by Stacey Gregg on Wednesday 7 October on the Peacock stage, as part of Dublin Theatre Festival. It is directed by Hamish Pirie from London's Royal Court.
Speaking about the production, Fiach Mac Conghail, Director, Abbey Theatre said:
"Stacey Gregg is one of Ireland's most exciting and vital young playwrights. I'm proud to produce her second play at the Abbey Theatre. When she participated in our Theatre of War Symposium in January 2015, Stacey spoke passionately about the peace walls that still separate communities across Belfast. This is an important play politically and culturally for the Abbey Theatre to do. It not only alerts us to the challenges of maintaining peace in Northern Ireland but also encourages cross community integration."
Shibboleth tells the story of a group of construction workers in Belfast who are building an extension to the Peace wall to separate Them-ens from Us-ens. It is an energetic and unsentimental picture of working-class Belfast.
As a politically savvy and engaged writer, Stacey Gregg draws our attention to the ongoing social and economic segregation of communities in Northern Ireland, despite apparent progress in the region since the 1998 peace process.
Shibboleth is Stacey's third commission to be staged by the Abbey Theatre, and was co-commissioned by the Abbey Theatre and the Goethe-Institut. Her play Perve premiered in 2011, and her short play When Cows Go Boom, featured in the 20:LOVE season in 2008, as part of the Abbey Theatre's short play commission series.
The Abbey Theatre is committed to commissioning and producing new plays from Northern Irish writers. Jimmy McAleavey's Monsters, Dinosaurs, Ghosts (2015) and Owen McCafferty's Quietly (2012), which both premiered on the Peacock stage, give us fascinating insights into contemporary life in Northern Ireland. In Shibboleth, Stacey Gregg explores the reality of life in Belfast from the perspective of a younger generation of writers.
The Abbey Theatre acknowledges the support of The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon
Cast
Piotr Baumann - Yuri
Rhys Dunlop - Corey
Charlie Farrell - Darren
Sophie Harkness - Agnieszka
Vincent Higgins - Stuarty
Andy Kelleher - Alan
Conor MacNeill - Mo
Louise Mathews - Councillor
Jake O'Loughlin - Darren
Kerri Quinn - Ruby
Cara Robinson - The Wall
Creatives
Stacey Gregg - Writer
Hamish Pirie - Director
Paul Keogan - Set and Lighting Designer
Saileóg O'Halloran - Costume Designer
James Fortune - Composer and Musical Director
Derek Conaghy - Sound Designer
Fleur Darkin - Movement Director
Eoghan Carrick - Assistant Director
Shibboleth by Stacey Gregg on the Peacock stage
Opens: Wednesday 7 October 2015
Previews: Fri 2 - Tues 6 October (including Monday)
Run: Fri 2 - Sat 31 October
Times: 8.00 pm (Tues - Sat); 2.30 pm Sat matinees
Booking
Tel: (01) 878 7222 / www.abbeytheatre.ie
Tickets: €13 - €20 / Concessions €13 - €17
Assisted performances for Shibboleth
Sign Language Interpreted Performance: Thursday 15 October at 8.00 pm
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