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Still We Sing
Still We Sing by Martina Collender Directed by Anna Nugent Ghent, 1956, autumn. The play opens to find a small group of actors in rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet. We discover these play-actors are being led Nickolas Locke and they are rehearsing the play in brutal conditions, against all odds. We discover this group of people have been torn from their homes, their lives, the livelihood, the identity, there dignity has been torn from them. Everything they have ever known has been ripped from them. The reason for this is the colour of the skin, there accents, where they come from, who they are, crimes they are accused of committing, none of the reasons make sense. None of these reasons are good enough. They are deeply distressed and confused by the way they are treated by the soldiers, who have come and are forcing them to live in a segregated area. The area they are living is very small, there is three building with no toilet facilities and is expected to be the home for over 1,000 people. If they were to leave they would shot. If they were to escape there is nowhere to go. There is limited food and is rationed out. Every morning they must attend a meeting led by the Commander, a man who has been chosen by the soldiers to deliver news, at these meetings they are told of news about rations, of new people arriving, of certain people expected to leave. This a source of constant worry as they never know what they will be told or not. The soldiers who man the area, carry guns, and have fists as strong as steel, they aren’t afraid to use. They characters in the play range from a few weeks old to 50 years old, each passing moment is ticking clock on their lives, each breath they take is bated with fear, each day is a new treat and still, they insist on rehearsing the play, still, the battle on against all odds. CAST: Paul Nugent as NICKOLAS LOCKE Fiana Toibin as KATHERINE LOCKE and NEWSREADER Iva Kevra as GRACE LOCK and NEWSREADER Mark Anthony O’Rielly as SAMUEL LOCKE Tim Casey as JONATHAN ILIC and GENERAL JODI Ryan Roy as STEPHEN PETROVIC and TOMMY LOCKE Emmanuel Okoye as ANDREW PETROVIC John J. O’Hagan as JACK VENEZIA Made with the support of the Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme through the Television License Fee.
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To The Bone
To The Bone by David Donavan Directed by Anna Nugent To The Bone is a rural drama exploring the relationship between generations and changing attitudes. Jack is helping his father Bob on the family farm but longs for something more. He faces a crossroad as decisions need to be made and friendships are tested in his journey of self-discovery. Laurence Lowry as Bob Paul Nugent as Jack Aoife Commons as Jess Patrick de Monfort as Tom Fiana Toibin as Mary Made with the support of the Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme through the Television License Fee.
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Class of 2025
Class of 2025 by Diandra Xavier Directed by Anna Nugent Anisa Kapoor is on the brink of adulthood, juggling school pressure, family expectations, and the endless chatter of her virtual assistant. When she’s asked to give a graduation speech, she must choose between perfection and honesty. Vivian Birungi as Anisa Brigid Leahy as Alexa Brian Robinson as Barista Rebecca Rose Flynn as Eimear Shruti Shandilya as Mum Fiana Toibin as Redwood Principal Made with the support of the Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme through the Television License Fee.
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Tenterhooks
Tenterhooks by John Morton Directed by Sarah Baxter Tenterhooks is a darkly comic drama about two strangers, adrift in their lives who keep meeting in various suicide black spots over the course of a summer. Brid is a self-styled damsel in distress looking for a knight in shining armour to rescue her. She lives alone in a big house in the country and is searching for someone to take an interest in her life and connect with. Jimmy is a recently unemployed taxi driver who stakes out suicide spots looking for souls to rescue. He lives at home with his uncaring mother and abusive stepfather and is struggling to get a foothold on his life. Both consistently bump into each other by chance but due to miscommunication, they struggle to create a bond. Eventually both of their lives take drastic turns for the worse as they both court death and their plights become more dire. With no help in sight, they are forced to cling to each other. But how long can either of them hang on for? Pattie Maguire as Brid Darragh Feehely as Jimmy Made with the support of the Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme through the Television License Fee.
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Home
Home by Carol RooneyDirected by Anna Nugent ‘Home’ is a monologue play following three generations of a Dublin family during the first half of 2020. Eileen a Clontarf native is enjoying every moment of retirement and all the social activity she can, her niece Niamh is heading into her 50’s and feels overwhelmed with her familial and work commitments and is concerned with her son Adam’s disinterest in the impending leaving certificate. Eileen falls and is admitted to hospital, due to her injuries she is sent to convalesce in a nursing home and lockdown then ensues, her positive outlook dwindles over the months as she unable to leave. Niamhis still mourning the loss of her own parents from recent years and is unable to realise the reality of the struggles facing her aunt and son. Adam has recovered from childhood cancer and the loss of freedom and opportunity through lockdown impact heavily on his mental health. Adam and Eileen share a bond not defined by age and in a time of intolerable anguish he assists her to make her own decision about her care. Cast Eileen - Helen Roache Niamh - Fiona Browne Adam - Adam Gallagher Made with the support of the Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme through the Television License Fee.
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