15 cities, 16 venues, 132 performances, 22 weeks

Press Release issued January 27th, 2011

Druid is delighted to announce that its production of The Silver Tassie by Seán O’Casey will receive its US premiere as part of Imagine Ireland, Culture Ireland’s year-long season of Irish arts in America in 2011. As part of this initiative, Druid will also present two other productions; The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh and Penelope by Enda Walsh. Over the last 25 years Druid has toured extensively throughout the US and this year will spend a total of 22 weeks touring coast-to-coast to 11 venues in 10 cities with 3 productions, more than any other Irish theatre company.

Commenting on this year’s touring plans, Artistic Director, Garry Hynes said

“I am very proud of our jam-packed schedule for the first half of 2011 with these three productions, touring both at home and abroad. In these times of uncertainty it is incredible for Druid to be employing 75 people across these three tours and we thank our funding partners, The Arts Council and Culture Ireland, for their unwavering support and equally importantly we thank our audiences for coming out to see us wherever we go”.

Following a hugely successful Irish and UK tour in 2010, The Silver Tassie will receive its US premiere at the 2011 Lincoln Center Festival in New York from July 24 – 31. Returning to the production, following their debut in the show last August, are three young Galway secondary school students who were cast through open auditions. Lara Connaughton (Salthill), John Gaughan (Kilcolgan) and Miriam Ward (Ballinasloe) will take to the stage with the professional acting company in what is considered to be one of the world’s leading performing arts festivals. John and his brother Joseph previously performed with Druid at the Lincoln Center Festival in 2006 when Druid toured there to present DruidSynge.

Winner of nine major international awards, the Druid and Atlantic Theater co-production of Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan will tour for a major record-breaking 21 weeks in Ireland and the US. Since March 2009, almost 50,000 people have seen this production and from January – June 2011 this comic masterpiece will run for 17 weeks in the US, making it the longest US tour by an Irish theatre company in decades. In June it will return to Galway (Town Hall Theatre, June 22 – 24) and, for the first time ever, the production will visit the island of Inis Meáin where this extensive tour will finish on June 26th.

Eugene Downes, Chief Executive of Culture Ireland commented that,

“This extraordinary tour is one of the headline events of the spring/summer programme for Imagine Ireland, Culture Ireland’s year of Irish arts across America. Druid has been working with us over the last 18 months to put together what is the most extensive US tour by an Irish theatre company in decades. Tens of thousands of new American audiences will encounter a world-class Irish ensemble in some of the most prestigious theatres and festivals across America.”

Kicking off in Roscommon Arts Centre this Thursday, the first of 16 theatres which Druid will play in the next 6 months, the Irish tour also includes a stop in Dublin (Gaiety Theatre Feb 21 – March 5) and US stops will include return visits to Washington, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. On this tour, Druid will make their debut in 5 US cities; Boston, Ann Arbor, Philadelphia, Charleston and New Haven.

The Fringe First award-winning Penelope returns to America following a phenomenally successful visit to St. Ann’s Warehouse, New York in 2010. This much lauded production was included in the New York Times’ Top Ten Theatre Highlights of 2010 and will now play at the Studio Theatre in Washington DC where it runs for three weeks. The London premiere of Penelope inaugurates a new partnership between Druid and The Hampstead Theatre and will mark Druid’s third visit to London with an Enda Walsh play in the last three years. Penelope will run at the London venue (Feb 10 – Mar 5).

In the first six months of 2011, Druid will travel to 15 different cities in Ireland, the UK and the US with the works of three authors. On St Patrick’s Day, Druid will fly the flag for Irish culture and theatre abroad when they present two productions in the USA; The Cripple of Inishmaan will play at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Penelope will play at the Studio Theater in Washington DC.

All three productions are presented as part of Imagine Ireland, Culture Ireland’s year-long season of Irish arts in America in 2011. Druid would also like to acknowledge the Arts Council for their support in funding the original staging of these productions.

Culture Ireland is the state agency for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide, working under the aegis of the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. Culture Ireland creates and supports opportunities for Irish artists to present their work at strategic international festivals, venues, showcases and arts markets. The agency comprises a board appointed by the Minister and an executive staff led by the Chief Executive. www.cultureireland.gov.ie

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