21/10/2019
A PLAY THAT HAS EERIE ECHOES OF THE HISTORY OF CASTLETOWN HOUSE ITSELF, TO OPEN, JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN
Kildare is set for some stunning theatre with award-winning local director Tom Byrne staging the acclaimed Conor McPherson play, ‘The Seafarer’, in Celbridge's Castletown House from Thursday October 24th to Sunday October 27th.
“The Seafarer” is both a laugh out loud comedy and a suspense filled thriller that has been lauded on Broadway and London’s west end where Conor McPherson has been described as” Theatre’s most beguiling poet of devastation”
Featuring some distinguished actors from both stage and screen, and written by one of Ireland’s greatest contemporary writers, this is a production not be missed.
Set in Baldoyle on a booze sodden Christmas Eve, four men become unwitting hosts to a high stakes game of poker with a mysterious stranger.
"The Seafarer is ultimately a tale of morality; a story of damnation and redemption. A play that will keep the audience transfixed from start to finish” said Director Tom Byrne, who hails from Leixlip's River Forest.
“Many people have been treated to the famous story of the night the devil himself came to Castletown House. Well now it’s our turn to bring you a story for the modern era!”
The play is produced by the Red Embers Theatre Company and directed by the company's co-founder Tom Byrne who has over 100 previous theatrical productions under his belt.
Tom has directed all our productions to date; ‘All For the Bloody Land’; ‘The Turn of The Screw’, ‘Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me’, ‘The 39 Steps’ and ‘Orphans’. Tom is also a very well-respected adjudicator and has judged the 2016 & 2018 All-Ireland Drama Awards.
Colin Walsh, who plays Sharky, hails from Leinster Wood, Maynooth, and is joint artistic director and co-founder of The Red Embers Theatre Company.
Colin works in both film and theatre and recently starred in the short comedy film 'Duck Egg Blue' and the feature film 'Danny Boy' directed by Ferdia Mac Anna.
Playing his older brother Richard is Gerry Herbert from Kilbarrack. Gerry, Gerry has acted, directed, produced and tutored in drama, comedy, musicals and passion plays for more than 25 years. He has won acting awards in both Ireland (AIMS & DLI) and the US (AIITF) as well as appearing on stage, TV and in film.
Richard’s best friend Ivan is played by Maynooth resident Noel Wade. Beginning his involvement with theatre in the early 1980s, Noel has many productions under his belt such as Insight Theatre Group’s productions of ‘The Hebrew Lesson’, ‘Mid-Summer Night’s Dream’, and ‘Tuesdays with Maury’.
Sharky’s love rival is played by Mark Yeates from Lusk. This is Mark’s second time acting with Red Embers following his successful run with ‘Someone Who’ll watch over me’ in 2017. Mark has also acted with Rush Dramatic Society, Bradan Players and Bow Productions.
Finally, the mysterious Mr Lockhart is played by Jim Tighe who recently appeared in an iconic role in Game of Thrones. Jim has been acting since 1992 and his theatre and television credits include Bouncers, Lean On Me, The Drowning Room, Bachelors Walk, and Fair City.
‘The Seafarer’ opens in the Hunting Room of Castletown House, Celbridge, on Thursday October 24th until Sunday October 27th at 8pm, with a matinee performance on Saturday October 26th at 3pm.
Tickets are €15 plus booking fee and are available on Eventbrite. For a quick link to performance booking see www.redemberstheatre.com
