New adaptation by Mark O’Rowe

Directed by Garry Hynes

To premiere internationally at Lincoln Center Festival, New York, 7th – 19 July 2015

Druid today announced its major new event theatre project DruidShakespeare:The History Plays will have its international premiere in New York at the 2015 Lincoln Center Festival.

Directed by Tony-award winning director Garry Hynes, Mark O’Rowe’s new pared down version of Shakespeare’s four history plays, the key foundational narrative of the English monarchy — Richard II, Henry IV (Pts. 1 & 2), and Henry V, will be presented as an epic theatrical experience, performed by a superlative cast which includes the hugely talented Druid Ensemble. There will be four marathon performances over the two weekends and four two-part performances on consecutive weekdays.

An epic story of families and wars and the making of nations, DruidShakespeare: The History Plays is an exploration of English history through an Irish lens. “The question we are asking is how, in the context of the historical relationship between Ireland and England, do we as Irish artists produce these plays today?” says Garry Hynes.

Druid excels at presenting world class theatre as exemplified in previous large scale projects presented at Lincoln Center Festival on three previous occasions: DruidMurphy: Three Plays by Tom Murphy (2012), O’Casey’s The Silver Tassie (2010), and DruidSynge (six plays by Synge in 2006) described by the New York Times as “a highlight not just of my theatregoing year but of my theatregoing life” preceded by the four time Tony Award-winning Leenane Trilogy by Martin McDonagh (West End and Broadway in 1998).

DruidShakespeare:The History Plays will premiere in Galway in May 2015, followed by an extensive national and international tour, details to be announced in the coming weeks. www.druid.ie

Further Media Information:
Kate Bowe / Gillian Temple, Kate Bowe PR: 01 6520143; kate@katebowepr.ie; gill@katebowepr.ie