Life is a Dream

Calderón In a Translation by Jo Clifford

Following the huge success of Schiller's Don Carlos Rough Magic presents the greatest of all Spanish 17th-century dramas. Calderón's Life is a Dream is widely recognised as one of the greatest plays of European Theatre and Jo Clifford''s spectacular translation was the runaway hit of the 1998 International Edinburgh Festival.

The Taming of the Shrew ~ Irish Tour

William Shakespeare

Re-imagining this infamous tale in wheeler-dealer rural Ireland, Rough Magic’s Shrew is a contemporary take on a play that hinges on fraudulence, farce and bad behaviour. With an A-list ensemble including Pauline McLynn and Owen Roe as the sparring protagonists, The Taming of the Shrew features live tango, loose morals and gombeen chic.

Improbable Frequency

Arthur Riordan & Bell Helicopter

Rough Magic presents the hugely entertaining and successful musical comedy, Improbable Frequency. Winner of three Irish Times Theatre Awards including Best Production and Best Director, Improbable Frequency is a joyous surreal satire that lifts the lid on Ireland’s beloved neutrality and cuts to the heart of the tempestuous affair with its nearest neighbour – England!

Is this About Sex?

Christian O'Reilly

This is an intelligenty comedy of sexual policy and emotional manners, debunks the definitions that bewitch, bother and bewilder us. Daniel, Angela, Cathy, Paul and Kay attempt to navigate the complexity of modern relationships in a sea riddled with icebegs, whirlpools and unseen currents. This is a dark and delightful exploration of gender, sexuality and identity.

Attempts on her Life

Martin Crimp

Attempts to describe her? Attempts to destroy her? Or attempts to destroy herself? Is Anne the object of violence? Or its terrifying practiitioner? Through the course of seventeen distinct but interconnected scenarios, Martin Crimp's 1997 play brings us on a whistle-stop journey through the emotional and political landscapes of our time, taking in art, surveillance, pornography, terrorism, genocide and globalisation along the way.

Don Carlos

By Friedrich von Schiller adapted by Mike Poulton

Rough Magic presents the Irish premiere of Schiller's classic political thriller.

Dream of Autumn

By Jon Fosse translated by Kim Dambaek

Rough Magic announce the first production by the company’s new Associate Director Tom Creed.

The Bonefire

Rosemary Jenkinson

Rough Magic returns to the Dublin Theatre Festival with a glittering comedy of violence that takes a darkly satirical look at what really lights our fire!

Improbable Frequency

By Arthur Riordan & Bell Helicopter

Rough Magic's surreal musical comedy tours to the Traverse Theatre as part of the Edinburgh Festival.

Improbable Frequency

By Arthur Riordan & Bell Helicopter

Rough Magic's surreal musical comedy tours to Poland's KONTAKT International Theatre Festival.

The Taming of the Shrew

by William Shakespeare

Re-imagining this infamous tale in wheeler-dealer rural Ireland, Rough Magic’s Shrew is a contemporary take on a play that hinges on fraudulence, farce and bad behaviour. With an A-list ensemble including Pauline McLynn and Owen Roe as the sparring protagonists, The Taming of the Shrew features live tango, loose morals and gombeen chic.

The Sugar Wife (revival)

by Elizabeth Kuti

Hannah Tewkley is torn between her work with the city’s poor and her husband’s prospering business – a string of oriental teahouses. Their guests, an English philanthropist and an African American are tainted by the horrors of America’s deep south. The visit begins with the best of intentions; but a collision is unavoidable. Set amongst Dublin’s Quaker community in the late 1840s, but with clear contemporary resonances, The Sugar Wife is an examination of sexual politics and political morality.

Seeds II Showcase

New Theatre Works by New Theatre Artists

Facilitated by Rough Magic Theatre Company, Seeds II was a structured development initiative for emerging playwrights and directors.

Launched in March 2004, SEEDS II comprised eighteen months of mentoring, readings, workshops and international research trips.

The programme culminated during the 2005 Dublin Fringe Festival with the SEEDS II SHOWCASE featuring three fringe productions produced and directed by the SEEDS II directors alongside public readings of the new plays developed during the process.

The Sugar Wife

by Elizabeth Kuti

The world premiere of The Sugar Wife was presented at Project Arts Centre in April 2005 (as listed). The play will tour to the Soho Theatre, London in February 2006 (see current productions).

Improbable Frequency (revival)

by Arthur Riordan and Bell Helicopter

The world premiere of Improbable Frequency was presented at the O'Reilly Theatre in September/October 2004 as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival (listed separately). The show subsequently transferred to the Abbey Theatre for a six week run (as listed). The production won three awards, including Best Production and Best Director, at the 2004 ESB/Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards and was nominated in two other categories.

The Life of Galileo

By Bertolt Brecht in a version by Howard Brenton

The Life of Galileo was presented at Project Arts Centre in February/March 2005.

Take Me Away (revival)

by Gerald Murphy

The world premiere of Take Me Away was presented at Project Arts Centre in February/March 2004 (listed separately). It was originally presented as part of the Rough Magic in Rep presentation alongside Words of Advice for Young People by Ioanna Anderson (listed separately). Rough Magic's production of Take Me Away subsequently toured to the prestigious Heidelberger Stückmarkt in Heidelberg, Germany (listed separately); to the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh where it received a Fringe First Award (listed separately) and to the Bush Theatre, London where it played for four weeks (as listed).