A cherished dream is finally becoming a reality with the imminent re-opening of Druid’s newly refurbished home on Druid Lane in Galway. The theatre will be unveiled with a production of The Gigli Concert by Tom Murphy as part of Galway Arts Festival (July 14-25). The production will then transfer to the Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork (July 28 – August 1) before returning to Galway to the Town Hall Theatre (August 4 – 8). Widely regarded as Tom Murphy’s masterpiece, The Gigli Concert will embark on an extensive tour of Ireland in November and December.
The Gigli Concert is a searching, challenging and funny play dealing with seven days in the relationship between Dynamatologist JPW King, a quack self-help therapist living in Dublin but born and brought up in England, and the mysterious Irishman, a despairing property magnate who seeks out King to help him sing like the great Italian opera singer Beniamino Gigli. Druid’s production revives the relationship between Tom Murphy and Garry Hynes. Murphy was previously Writer-in-Association with the company and his plays Bailegangaire and Conversations on a Homecoming received their world premieres in the theatre on Druid Lane.
Artistic Director Garry Hynes commented “It’s great to be back working with Tom again and to be doing this in our beautifully refurbished home adds to the pleasure.”
It was Druid’s move in 1979 into the theatre on Druid Lane that spearheaded the development of what is now known as Galway’s Latin Quarter. The theatre has been integral to the Druid story and has been the creative birthplace for all of the company’s work over the past 30 years, from J.M. Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World through to Martin McDonagh’s Leenane Trilogy.
On Friday July 17th Druid will host a Benefit Night to raise funds for their new writing programme, which in the past has brought the work of emerging young writers such as McDonagh, Enda Walsh, Christian O’Reilly and many others to the stage. The theatre will officially be opened over two nights on Saturday July 18th and Monday 20th July.
In addition to Druid’s staging of The Gigli Concert, the popular Druid Debuts (July 22nd & 24th) return to Galway Arts Festival with rehearsed readings of plays from fledgling writers Michéal Donnellan and John O’Donovan. On Sunday July 26th, Druid will commemorate the centenary of J.M. Synge’s death (March 24th, 1909) with a series of readings of works from his prose, poetry and plays. Some of Ireland’s greatest artists will come together to celebrate his life and work on what promises to be a very special evening.
DRUID DEBUTS
Sunday Morning Coming Down
By Michéal Donnellan
Wednesday 22nd July 2pm
The Home Front By John O’Donovan
Friday 24th July 2pm
Venue: Druid Lane Theatre, Galway
Tickets: €5
SYNGE CENTENARY
Venue: St. Nicholas’ Church, Galway
Date: Sunday July 26th 7pm
Tickets: €10
Book Tickets to any of the above events at this link
The Galway Arts Festival box office opens in Galway on Monday June 22nd.
Phone bookings also open on June 22nd – 091 566 577.