Rough Magic Theatre Company will stage an unprecedented four productions in Spring 2005. Signalling a dramatically increased level of activity, the company will re-stage two of its hit productions from 2004 and will present two new productions at Dublin’s Project Arts Centre.
The Company’s production of TAKE ME AWAY by Gerald Murphy will transfer to the Bush Theatre, London, one of the UK’s most prestigious new writing houses. Take Me Away was first presented in Dublin in February 2004 as part of the new writing season ‘Rough Magic in Rep’. The play subsequently received a Fringe First Award and attracted rave reviews during its run at the Traverse Theatre as part of this year’s Edinburgh Festival. Featuring the original cast, Take Me Away will run at the Bush Theatre for four weeks from February 8th – March 5th.
Rough Magic’s production of the musical comedy IMPROBABLE FREQUENCY by Arthur Riordan and Bell Helicopter will transfer to the Abbey theatre from early March for a six week run. Improbable Frequency played to packed houses at the O’Reilly Theatre during this year’s Dublin Theatre Festival and Lynne Parker’s exuberant production received rave reviews and standing ovations. Rough Magic has now been invited to re-stage Improbable Frequency at the Abbey; the first time the company has performed its work on the main stage of the National Theatre.
From February 17th to March 5th the company will present a major new production of THE LIFE OF GALILEO by Bertolt Brecht at Project Arts Centre. This great modern classic tells the remarkable story of the famous scientist’s life, but more importantly it is an examination of the truth and how it can be manipulated and distorted for political reasons. The play will be directed by Lynne Parker, with set design by Alan Farquharson, costumes by Kathy Strachan and lighting by Rupert Murray. Rough Magic will present Howard Brenton’s translation of The Life of Galileo, whose play, Bloody Poetry, was presented by the company in 1986. Rough Magic will be presenting a series of talks and discussions around the play in association with the Institute of physics in Ireland.
Rough Magic will also present IN THE LAST OF THE LIGHT (working title) by Elizabeth Kuti at Project Arts Centre from April 6th to 23rd. Set in Dublin in the late 1840s, this new play uses the ‘silent’ Quaker meeting as a theatrical framework to examine what happens when a good woman turns her philanthropic attentions from tragedies closer to home to the Anti-Slavery Movement in the USA. With an obvious contemporary resonance, the play is an examination of personal and religious responsibility and asks how we should live in an increasingly prosperous but compromised society. In The Last of the Light will be directed by Rough Magic’s Artistic Director, Lynne Parker. The play was commissioned by Rough Magic following the successful 1999 production of The Whisperers; Frances Sheridan’s incomplete play ‘A Trip to Bath’ as finished by Elizabeth Kuti.
Posted on: 26/11/2004