axis: Ballymun Present THE PARTING GLASS at Barrow Street Theatre

axis: Ballymun announces that their production of The Parting Glass will be presented at The Barrow Street Theatre in Manhattan's West Village (July 21 - 31). Playwright Dermot Bolger will also read from his work at the prestigious Lincoln Centre New York (along with Irish authors Colum McCann and Belinda McKeown) on July 20. Both events are part of Imagine Ireland, Culture Ireland's yearlong celebration of Irish arts in America.

A universal story of friendship, family and fatherhood, The Parting Glass has just completed an extensive Irish tour of 13 venues, receiving rave reviews and standing ovations. The one-man show, about a returned emigrant's experience of contemporary Ireland in the boom to bust years, stars Ray Yeates who delivers a powerful, humorous and tender performance. It is directed by Mark O'Brien and designed by artist Robert Ballagh.

Actor and outgoing Artistic Director of axis: Ballymun, Ray Yeates said, "Imagine Ireland is a superb showcase for axis, Dermot Bolger and The Parting Glass. Through this play Dermot has captured what it means now to be Irish."

The newly appointed Lord Mayor of Dublin Andrew Montague commented, "I am very proud to see axis tour this fantastic production to New York as part of Imagine Ireland. Its timing, to co-inside with axis' 10th anniversary, further cements their reputation of being a centre of excellence and inclusion locally, nationally and internationally"

axis: Ballymun have a close relationship with Barrow Street Theatre having previously been invited to the Off-Broadway theatre in 2008 to perform Hip-Nós, a unique mix of hip-hop and sean-nós. They subsequently collaborated on a production of Nilaja Sun's award-winning No Child... which was performed in Ballymun as part of Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival in 2010.

What The Critics Say About The Parting Glass

"The play makes a variegated and eloquent comment on maleness, friendship and fatherhood, and every Eoin and his son should see it." **** The Irish Times

"Yeates, thanks to excellent comic timing, mimes the laughter from Bolger's script to take us beyond anger, without making us forget it." **** Irish Examiner

".....the layers of Bolger's text balance the polemical with the personal, skirting sentimentality. Ray Yeates's versatile performance carries the audience with him." **** The Guardian

"Director Mark O'Brien maintains an unflagging pace, while Yeates's performance is engaging and understated. He carries the audience on waves of humour, eliciting familiar emotions and at times, surprise."

* * * The Sunday Business Post

"No matter what stage of life you are in or what nationality you are - or how you feel about football - The Parting Glass will resonate with you. This is the sort of work that cuts through to the heart of human experience, across all boundaries." nytheatre.com

"A fascinating monologue about emigration and the meaning of home, as well as family, loss and friendship... played brilliantly by Ray Yeates, with genuine warmth and feeling". Real Time Arts Magazine

Imagine Ireland is a year-long season of Irish arts in America in 2011, an initiative of Culture Ireland, with funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport. www.imagineireland.ie

For information on axis: Ballymun see www.axis-ballymun.ie. For regular updates become a fan on Facebook facebook.com/axisballymun or follow updates on Twitter twitter.com/axisBallymun

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