Belfast's award-winning Kabosh Theatre Company transposes its remarkable site-specific production of "This Is What They Sang" to New York as part of the 1st Irish Festival, New York's only all-Irish theatre festival. Directed by Paula McFetridge, and written by Gavin Kostick, "This Is What We Sang" runs from September 19 to September 29 at the Synagogue for the Arts, 49 White Street, in Tribeca. Featuring a cast of five, "This Is What We Sang" tells a story linking five generations of a Jewish family from Belfast. Set on Yom Kippur, the play was originally performed at the Belfast Synagogue, where it premiered in September of last year, around the time of the Yom Kippur holiday. The play's New York premiere also coincides with the holiday.
In "This Is What We Sang," a story of love and atonement, five family members from across the globe, and across the centuries, seek absolution for their past. As they relate the tale of their lives, their secrets and sins, they tell the story of Belfast, the city they made home.
Kostick, who is from Dublin, was commissioned by Kabosh to "migrate" to Belfast to develop the project. Using his outsider perspective to full advantage, Kostick familiarized himself with Belfast's Jewish community, which dates back to the 1850's when a first small wave of Jews from Germany began to settle there. At its peak in 1964, when the Belfast Synagogue on Somerton Road opened its doors, the community numbered over 1600 in 1964. It now numbers under 100.
The play's cast includes four distinguished actors from Belfast: The original cast members
Lalor Roddy ("Hunger" the 2008 Cannes Camera d'Or winner); Jo Donnelly; Paul Kennedy ("Five Minutes of Heaven," 2009 Sundance Film Festival award-winner), and Ali White ("Fifty Dead Men Walking," 2009 Vancouver Film Critic's Circle winner). The production features original music by
Neil Martin, that sensitively melds Jewish and Irish folk traditions, performed live by the renowned singer
Alan Burke.
McFetridge, an actress and director, has been Kabosh's artistic director since 2006. Prior to that she was the artistic director of the Lyric Theatre. She appears in featured role in "Five Minutes of Heaven" (2009) starring
Liam Neeson. Dedicated to challenging the notion of what theatre is and where it takes place, Kabosh commissions playwrights to respond to local histories, stories and heritage, for performance in complimentary locations. While in New York, and also as part of 1st Irish, Kabosh hosts a special panel discussion at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts on Tuesday September 28 at 6pm.
"This Is What We Sang" which The Irish Times deemed "a smash hit..." with "superb actors" plays 9 times at Synagogue for the Arts, 49 White Street, from September 19 through September 29, on the following dates: Sunday to Tuesday September 19, 20, 21 at 8pm; Saturday September 25 at 8pm; Sunday September 26 at 3pm & 8pm; Monday & Tuesday September 27 & 28 at 8pm, and Wednesday September 29 at 3pm. Tickets, which are $30 ($20 for students) are available via SmartTix, by phone at (212) 868-4444, or online at
www.smarttix.com. For more information visit
www.1stirish.org
Coordinated by the New York-based Origin Theatre Company, 1st Irish 2010 (the 3rd annual edition), runs from September 7 to October 4, and features plays by 16 mostly contemporary, living Irish playwrights in venues across New York. The festival concludes on Monday October 4 with an Awards Ceremony at which the festival's jury will honor the outstanding performances and productions, and a new Audience Choice Award for Best Play will be inaugurated.
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