Ireland’s prestigious Abbey Theatre has created a unique digital experience that will bring Irish theatre into your home.
Dear Ireland is an exciting initiative by the Abbey Theatre that brings together the voices of 50 writers and 50 actors to create fresh new performances that will be presented online.
Dear Ireland will be released over four days, at 7.30pm from Tuesday 28 April to Friday 1 May on the Abbey Theatre’s YouTube channel.
The writers have been commissioned to write a monologue inspired by four questions: What do we want to be to one another? What do we want our society to look like? What are we not paying enough attention to? Where do we want to go next?
They include some of the island’s most successful and esteemed wordsmiths including Joseph O’ Connor, Edna O’ Brien and Owen McCafferty. There will also be a writer each from the USA, China and Italy.
The short monologues will be performed and self-recorded at home by 50 well-known Irish actors, among them Brendan Gleeson, Denise Gough and Marie Mullen. Each writer has nominated one actor to perform their piece.
The Abbey Theatre, Dublin City
Speaking about the Dear Ireland project, Graham McLaren and Neil Murray, Directors of the Abbey Theatre said: “The Abbey Theatre is more than the walls which house its productions, and the work of Ireland’s national theatre responds and will continue to reflect the challenges being faced by Irish society. We are artist-led and audience-focused and, in this profoundly historic period for Ireland, we have brought together the voices of 100 artists to provoke a creative conversation with the nation. We hope Dear Ireland will be a provocation for dialogue, reflection and entertainment.”
Acclaimed Irish artist Maser, most known for his exciting street art, was commissioned to respond to the Dear Ireland call and his beautiful artwork will be woven through the visuals in the films.
Ray Harman, one of Ireland’s best known TV and film composers, is also contributing, with his music underscoring various elements of this digital project.
The Abbey Theatre is Ireland’s national theatre and dates back to 1904. It has championed Irish writers and actors and was the first to stage works by some of Ireland’s great playwrights, including William Butler Yeats, Lady Gregory, Seán O’Casey and John Millington Synge.
Dear Ireland will be released over four days, at 7.30pm from Tuesday 28 April to Friday 1 May on the Abbey Theatre’s YouTube channel.
So set the dates in your diary and prepare to enjoy quality theatre from the comfort of your armchair.
www.ireland.comMaser Art1/2
