Tommy Tiernan and Garry Hynes at the Druid Experience Exhibition at Druid Lane Theatre. Tommy officially opened the exhibition on July 1, 2013. Photo by Joe O’Shaughnessy.
Druid Lane Theatre Opening Times
Druid Lane Theatre (between Quay Street and Flood Street) has opened its doors for the summer months and now invites you to enjoy the ‘Druid Experience’ exhibition. The company, founded in 1975 by Garry Hynes, Mick Lally and Marie Mullen, is opening its home for you to experience many of the great moments of the Druid story in one of Galway’s landmark buildings.
OPENING TIMES: July 1 – August 30 | 12 – 4pm, Monday – Friday | Entry is free.
Druid Lane Theatre Shop
The Druid Lane Theatre shop is also open during these times. Items on sale include the DruidSynge DVD, programmes, playtexts, posters, t-shirts, bags and more.
Press Release July 1, 2013
Druid Lane Theatre (between Quay Street and Flood Street) has opened its doors for the summer months and now invites you to enjoy the ‘Druid Experience’. The company, founded in 1975 by Garry Hynes, Mick Lally and Marie Mullen, is opening its home for you to experience many of the great moments of the Druid story in one of Galway’s landmark buildings.
As part of your visit you can see an eclectic collection of memorabilia – including photos and posters from various Druid productions spanning the last 38 years – browse the Druid shop and see signature props from shows.
You can also come and watch screenings of two ‘behind the scenes’ documentaries. The first, Back to the Cradle (produced and directed by Paul Cusack for RTÉ) documents Druid’s first ever visit to Inis Meáin in 1982. The second, Mighty Talk (produced by Wildfire Films in association with RTÉ) charts the staging of DruidSynge from rehearsals to the opening night at the 2005 Galway Arts Festival and beyond, to the glorious occasion of its final performance of 2005 on Inis Meáin.
Original artwork on display includes portraits by Brian Bourke of the three Druid co-founders; a portrait of one of Ireland’s greatest actors, Siobhán McKenna, painted by John Shinnors in 1985 during what was to become Siobhán’s swansong performance in Tom Murphy’s Bailegangaire; and the original poster image by John Behan for the 1984 production of Murphy’s Famine.
The 2009 refurbishment of the theatre enhances and preserves the heritage and original character of the building; in opening the theatre to the public, Druid also shares the building’s heritage, a story that holds as many surprises as Druid’s own story does.
Upcoming events in the theatre this month includes two rehearsed readings as part of the Druid Debut series: Happy Birthday Jacob by Michael Marshall, which takes place on Tuesday, 23rd July at 2pm, and _Be Infants in Evil _by Brian Martin on Friday, 26th July at 2pm. The Druid Debuts series is an initiative started by Druid in 2001 to support the development of talented emerging writers.
Also on this month is a Galway Arts Festival and Emergency Room production of Riverrun, adapted and performed by Olwen Fouéré, a production that presents the voice of the river, Anna Livia Plurabelle, from Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. Full details for all these events can be found on www.galwayartsfestival.com or on 091 566577.
The ‘Druid Experience’ was officially opened by Tommy Tiernan on Monday, 1st July. Druid Lane Theatre is open to the public from 10am – 2pm, Monday – Friday, and by arrangement for visiting groups. Guided tours are also available. For more details call 091 568 660.
Druid would like to acknowledge the continued support of the Arts Council. Druid also acknowledges the support of NUI Galway, Galway City Council and Galway County Council and wishes to express its continuing gratitude to Thomas McDonogh & Sons Limited for their support of the company.
For further press Information please contact Kate or Jenny at Kate Bowe PR.
Email: kate@katebowepr.ie; jenny@katebowepr.ie Tel: 01 652 0143