Gabriel Byrne Writer and Performer - Lonny Price - Landmark Productions
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WALKING WITH GHOSTS PAGE 1
Landmark Productions
and Lovano
GAB∏IEL
BY∏NE
WALKING
WITH
GHOSTS Writer and Performer
Gabriel Byrne
Director
Lonny Price
PAGE 2 WALKING WITH GHOSTS WALKING WITH GHOSTS PAGE 3
Landmark Productions and Lovano
WORLD PREMIERE
WALKING
WITH GHOSTSwritten and performed by Gabriel Byrne
Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lonny Price
Set and Lighting Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sinéad McKenna
Costume Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan O’Clery
Sound Designer and Composer . . . . . . . . . . . . Sinéad Diskin
27 JANUARY – 6 FEBRUARY 2022 | GAIETY THEATRE
OPENING NIGHT | 1 FEBRUARY 2022
ON DEMAND 26 FEBRUARY – 4 MARCH 2022
PAGE 4 WALKING WITH GHOSTS WALKING WITH GHOSTS PAGE 5
LANDMARK PRODUCTIONS LOVANO
Landmark Productions is one of Numerous awards include the Judges’ Lovano is the producing and general Before that, he was Deputy Director
Ireland’s leading theatre producers. Special Award at the Irish Times Irish management entity for Pádraig at the Gate Theatre and oversaw
It produces wide-ranging work in Theatre Awards, in recognition of Heneghan, who is one of Ireland’s its touring to leading international
Ireland, and shares that work with ‘sustained excellence in programming most experienced producers in the festivals (Edinburgh, London, Sydney
international audiences. and for developing imaginative performing arts. and New York) and transfers of its work
partnerships to bring quality theatre to to the West End and Broadway.
Led by Anne Clarke since the the Irish and international stage’; and a Since 2012, he has worked with some
company’s foundation in 2003, its Special Tribute Award for Anne Clarke, of Ireland’s leading independent He is delighted to be partnering
productions have received multiple for her work as ‘a producer of world- artists in creating new work and on again with Landmark Productions,
awards and have been seen in leading class theatre in the independent sector a consultancy basis. He is currently following on from working together on
theatres in London, New York and in Ireland’. working with leading Irish artists Backwards up a Rainbow (Rosaleen
beyond. It produces a wide range of Emma Martin/United Fall, Jean Linehan and Conor Linehan, 2021)
ambitious work – plays, operas and In January 2021, the company Butler and Shane O’Reilly and and the three summer seasons of Once
musicals – in theatres ranging from the established Landmark Live, a new recently general managed projects for at the Olympia Theatre (2015-2017).
66-seat New Theatre to the 1,254-seat online streaming platform which Riverdream Productions (Heartbeat
Olympia. It co-produces regularly with enables it to bring the thrill of live of Home – its world premiere and
a number of partners, including, most theatre to audiences around the world. international touring) and large-scale
significantly, Galway International Arts projects for Tyrone Productions in
Festival and Irish National Opera. Its 26 www.landmarkproductions.ie Croke Park.
world premieres include new plays by
major Irish writers such as Enda Walsh,
Mark O’Rowe and Deirdre Kinahan,
featuring a roll-call of Ireland’s finest
actors, directors and designers.
PAGE 6 WALKING WITH GHOSTS WALKING WITH GHOSTS PAGE 7
GABRIEL BYRNE WRITER / PERFORMER LONNY PRICE DIRECTOR
Gabriel Byrne began On Broadway, he has On Broadway, Lonny Todd (Emmy Award)
his career at Dublin’s been twice nominated Price directed Sunset and Company. He
renowned Focus Theatre for a Tony Award in plays Boulevard, Lady Day also directed the stage
and Project Arts Centre. by Eugene O’Neill, and at Emerson’s Bar and and filmed versions of
In 1982, he joined he won the Critics Circle Grill, 110 in the Shade, his tribute to Stephen
London’s Royal Court Award for Best Actor Master Harold... and Sondheim, Sondheim:
Theatre and later the for his performance the Boys, Sally Marr and The Birthday Concert!
National Theatre, where in A Touch of the Poet. her Escorts (co-written (Emmy Award).
he played leading roles Gabriel played the role with Joan Rivers and Other Philharmonic
before moving to the of King Arthur in the Erin Sanders), Urban collaborations include
United States. Lonny Price production Cowboy, A Class Act the ‘Live From Lincoln
of Camelot with the New (Tony Award nomination Center’ broadcast of
He has starred in more than 90 feature York Philharmonic Orchestra. for Best Book of a Musical, co-written Candide and Sondheim’s Passion
films including Excalibur, Defence of with Linda Kline) and Off Broadway’s (Emmy Award). He also directed
the Realm, Miller’s Crossing, Into the Television credits include Mussolini, Scotland PA, which had its world Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
West, Point of No Return, Little Women, Vikings, Secret State (Channel 4), premiere at Roundabout Theatre for HBO. For his first feature, Master
Spider, The Usual Suspects, Dead Man, Weapons of Mass Distraction (HBO) Company’s Laura Pels Theatre in 2019. Harold ... and the Boys, he received a
The Man in the Iron Mask, Vanity Fair, and War of the Worlds. He won a Best Director Award from the New York
Louder than Bombs, Hereditary, Death Golden Globe for his role in HBO’s In West End credits include Lady Day International Independent Film and
of a Ladies’ Man. Treatment. at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, as well as Video Festival.
Carousel, Sunset Boulevard, Sweeney
Byrne has worked with some of In 2019, Byrne was honoured by IFTA Todd and Man of La Mancha, all for His documentary, Best Worst Thing
cinema’s leading directors, including with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In English National Opera. That Ever Could Have Happened
the Coen Brothers, Wim Wenders, 2021, he received the IFTA Best Actor premiered at the New York Film
Costa Gavras, Jim Jarmusch, Ken Award for his latest film, Death of a Film and television credits include Festival and was named one of New
Loach, Ken Russell, John Boorman, Ladies’ Man. his film version of the New York York Times’ Top 10 Films of 2016.
David Cronenberg, Joachim Trier and Philharmonic productions of Camelot,
Ari Aster. starring Gabriel Byrne, Sweeney
PAGE 8 WALKING WITH GHOSTS WALKING WITH GHOSTS PAGE 9
SINÉAD McKENNA SET AND LIGHTING DESIGNER JOAN O’CLERY COSTUME DESIGNER
Sinéad McKenna is Warehouse); Watt Joan O’Clery is a Macbeth, She Stoops
an internationally (Ireland/international costume designer to Conquer (Royal
renowned designer tour); Parade (Théâtre working in both stage Shakespeare Company);
working across theatre, du Châtelet); Insane and screen. She is a An Enemy of the People
opera, dance and film. Animals (Home); Once three-time winner of and The Little Foxes (Gate
She has won two Irish Upon a Bridge (set and Best Costume Design Theatre); DruidMurphy
Times Irish Theatre lighting), Epiphany, at the Irish Times Irish (Druid); Faith Healer,
Awards for Best Lighting Furniture (Druid); Theatre Awards and has She Stoops to Conquer
Design and a Drama The Tales of Hoffman, been nominated three and The Unmanageable
Desk nomination for Griselda, La Bohème times for Best Costume Sisters (Abbey Theatre).
Best Lighting Design for (Irish National Opera); Design at the Irish Film
a Musical. The Children, Beginning, and Television Awards. Her screen work includes
Assassins, The Beckett/Pinter/Friel She has originated the costumes for the television series Kin and Finding
Her previous designs for Landmark Festival, Private Lives, Juno and the several world premieres by major Irish Joy (RTÉ). Feature film credits include
Productions include Straight to Video, Paycock, A Month in the Country (Gate writers including Seamus Heaney, Dating Amber, King of the Travellers,
The Approach (set and lighting), Asking Theatre); Famished Castle, Travesties, Brian Friel, Tom Murphy, Marina Carr Swansong, Snap, Out of Innocence,
for It, Howie the Rookie, Greener, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Frank McGuinness. I, Dolours, Rose Plays Julie, and The
October, The Last Days of the Celtic Improbable Frequency, The Parker Delinquent Season.
Tiger and Blackbird. Project, Life is a Dream and Attempts Recent theatre credits include The
on Her Life (Rough Magic). Saviour and The Approach (Landmark Opera credits include The First Child
Other designs include Faith Healer, Productions); Medicine and Woyzeck and The Second Violinist (Landmark
Drama at Inish, The Unmanageable SInéad has designed for many other in Winter (Landmark Productions and Productions and Irish National Opera);
Sisters, Othello, Aristocrats, The major Irish companies including Galway International Arts Festival); Madama Butterfly (Irish National
Plough and the Stars, The Burial at Fishamble, CoisCéim, Gúna Nua, Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe); Opera); and La Traviata (ENO).
Thebes (Abbey Theatre); Demos (Liz Decadent, Gare Saint Lazare, Corn
Roche Company); Angela’s Ashes Exchange, Thisispopbaby, Siren,
The Musical (Bord Gáis Energy Second Age, Performance Corporation
Theatre/tour); Teenage Dick (Donmar and Semper Fi.
PAGE 10 WALKING WITH GHOSTS WALKING WITH GHOSTS PAGE 11
SINÉAD DISKIN SOUND DESIGNER AND COMPOSER MATT COWART KEVIN SMITH
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE
Sinéad Diskin is a sound
designer and composer
Arts Festival); Eclipsed,
Serious Money, Love On Broadway, Matt associate directed
LIGHTING DESIGNER /
based in Dublin, Ireland. and Information, the critically acclaimed revival of LX PROGRAMMER
She is a graduate of the Pornography (The Lir Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close.
SEEDS programme with Academy); Pale Sister, Additional Broadway credits include Kevin Smith is a lighting designer
Rough Magic, Dublin, The Snapper, The Glass the Tony Award winning production based in Dublin. He has designed for
a recipient of the Next Menagerie (Gate Theatre, of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and theatre, dance and opera in Ireland
Generation Artists Award Dublin); Faultline, Grill (Associate Director) and 110 in and internationally, with over 100
2019 from the Arts The Anvil, Torch (ANU the Shade (Assistant Director), both productions to his credit.
Council of Ireland and Productions); Incantata starring Audra McDonald.
the commission award (Galway International He has worked with many Irish
from ANU Productions Arts Festival); Ask Too His West End credits include Man of companies including the Abbey
and the Arts Council of Ireland 2020. Much of Me (Abbey Theatre); The La Mancha starring Kelsey Grammer Theatre, Fishamble, Rough Magic, NI
Phlebotomist (Hampstead Theatre, (Associate Director), Carousel Opera and Irish National Opera. Kevin
Recent theatre credits include The London); and Mr. Burns: A Post Electric (Associate Director), and Sweeney previously designed These Halcyon
Visit (Draíocht); Minseach (Sibéal Play (Rough Magic SEEDS Showcase). Todd, starring Emma Thompson and Days (Landmark Productions), which
Davitt); Aftertaste (National Youth Bryn Terfel (Associate Director). won a Fringe First Award at the
Theatre); Boland: Journey of a Poet Film credits include Canaries and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
(Druid); Happy Days, Blood in the Dirt Torch (ANU Productions); Suited Film and television credits include the
(Landmark Productions); Medicine (Battersea Arts Centre); Constance documentary Hal Prince: the director’s
(Associate Sound Designer, Landmark (Úna Kavanagh); and Darkey Kelly life (PBS) (Co-Producer) and Best
Productions and Galway International (Katie McCann) Worst Thing That Ever Could Have
Happened (Co-Producer).
PAGE 12 WALKING WITH GHOSTS WALKING WITH GHOSTS PAGE 13
SINÉAD LAWLOR PAI RATHAYA EAMONN FOX TARA FURLONG MARK JACKSON
ASSOCIATE ASSISTANT PRODUCTION STAGE ASSISTANT
COSTUME DESIGNER SET DESIGNER MANAGER MANAGER STAGE MANAGER
Sinéad Lawlor is a costume supervisor, Pai Rathaya is a Thai theatre designer Eamonn Fox, a Galway Tara is delighted to be After graduating with a
designer and graduate of London based in Dublin and Bangkok who has native, is delighted to working with Landmark First Class Honours BA
College of Fashion’s BA in Costume for worked as a set and costume designer. be working again with Productions and Lovano in Stage Management
Performance (2008, First). Her work spans theatre, opera, Landmark Productions on Walking with Ghosts, and Technical Theatre
musicals, and dance. and Lovano on Walking having previously stage at The Lir Academy,
Recent design work includes Warrior with Ghosts. He is a managed Breakfast on Mark has worked locally
(Karen Egan); Caged (FemmeBizarre); Rathaya graduated with a Bachelor of freelance Production Pluto for Landmark in a variety of roles in
A Handful of Dreams, Bingo Wings Landscape Architecture and Master Manager/Event Productions and Galway professional theatres.
(Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards of Dramatic Arts from Chulalongkorn Controller, plying his International Arts He is thrilled to be
nomination for Best Costume) (Fidget University. In 2018, she moved to trade in the theatre, Festival. working with Landmark
Feet); The First Child (associate Dublin to study MFA Stage Design at arts, television and Productions and
costume designer to Joan O’Clery, The Lir Academy (distinction). entertainment world as Tara has worked as a Lovano on this special
Landmark Productions and Galway an escape from reality. stage manager for the production.
International Arts Festival); Kin Recent design work includes Our Abbey Theatre since
(assistant costume designer to Joan Town, Twelfth Night (The Lir); Volcano He has worked 2006. Abbey highlights Theatre credits
O’Clery, AMC and RTÉ); How to Sink a (Nun’s Island Theatre). Assistant extensively with Druid include Faith Healer, include All the Angels
Paper Boat (short), The Lost Hours and design work includes Straight to Video Theatre Company, The Wake and By the Bog (Rough Magic);
Criminal Queers (CoisCéim). (Landmark Productions) and All the Galway International of Cats. She has worked Conversations after
Angels (Rough Magic). Arts Festival, Dublin with most of the major Sex (Thisispopbaby);
She is a visiting MFA costume tutor Theatre Festival, St theatre companies in In Middletown (Gate
at The Lir Academy and has much Rathaya is currently a member of the Patrick’s Festival, MCD, Dublin as well as acting Theatre); The Beacon
experience as a costume supervisor Rough Magic SEEDS Apprenticeship TG4, Ros na Rún, as company manager for (Druid and Gate
for Wexford Festival Opera, Landmark Programme. Shinawil, Irish National Gúna Nua. Theatre); Love and
Productions and Irish National Opera. Opera, Liz Roche Dance. Information (TU
Dublin); A Holy Show
He has toured and Looking for América
extensively around the (Mermaid Arts Centre);
world but has a lot more The Merchant of Venice,
of it to explore. Anatomy of a Suicide, X
and Brontë (The Lir); and
Snow White (The Civic).
PAGE 14 WALKING WITH GHOSTS WALKING WITH GHOSTS PAGE 15
Associate Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt Cowart
Associate Lighting Designer / LX Programmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Smith
Landmark Productions and Lovano
Associate Costume Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sinéad Lawlor
WALKING
Assistant Set Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pai Rathaya
Hair and Makeup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carole Dunne
Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eamonn Fox
Stage Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tara Furlong
Assistant Stage Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Jackson
WITH GHOSTS
Chief LX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan Collins
Sound System Design / Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin McGing
Stage Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hugh Roberts
Followspot Operator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ado Moylan
Scenic Artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandra Butler
Set Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TPS
Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trevor Price
written and performed by Gabriel Byrne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Owen Sherwin
Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerome De Perlinghi | portrait
CAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Cronin | photoshoot
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ros Kavanagh | production
Gabriel Byrne
Graphic Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gareth Jones
Publicist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sinead O’Doherty, O’Doherty Communications
The performance runs for 2 hours and 30 minutes including a 20 minute interval.
Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aileen Galvin & Emma Harney, Sync & Swim
Marketing Executive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allie Whelan
Digital Content Creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sayonara Bittencourt
Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lonny Price
Set and Lighting Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sinéad McKenna Landmark Productions
Costume Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan O’Clery Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anne Clarke
Sound Designer and Composer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sinéad Diskin Assistant Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Farrell
Digital Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hugh Farrell
Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sinead McPhillips
Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Catherine Finn
Lovano
Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pádraig Heneghan
PAGE 16 WALKING WITH GHOSTS WALKING WITH GHOSTS PAGE 17
FILMING
Camera Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lonny Price
Director of Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hugh Chaloner
Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Young
Digital Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hugh Farrell
Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ned O’Hanlon
Unit Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Warde | Streamcast
TV Sound Recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Ashe Browne
Camera Supervisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gerry MacArthur
Vision Mixer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barbara Cremin
Assistant Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Janice Byrne
Camera Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dara McDonagh
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Fagan
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Philip Graham
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthew Kirrane
Camera Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Josh Byrne
Programme for Borstal Boy at the Gaiety Theatre, June 1978, which saw
Gabriel Byrne’s last appearance on an Irish stage.
PAGE 18 WALKING WITH GHOSTS WALKING WITH GHOSTS PAGE 19
LANDMARK LIVE
‘LANDMARK PRODUCTIONS HAVE QUICKLY BECOME LEADERS ‘OF ALL THE STREAMED PRODUCTIONS I HAVE SEEN IN THE
IN DIGITAL THEATRE IN IRELAND WITH THEIR ONLINE VIEWING PAST YEAR, THIS ONE COMES CLOSEST TO CAPTURING THE
PLATFORM, LANDMARK LIVE’ FOCUS AND TENSION OF LIVE THEATRE’
Sunday Business Post The Guardian on the live broadcast of The Approach
Landmark Live is a new online streaming platform which enables Landmark
to bring the thrill of live theatre to audiences around the world. Launched in
January 2021, Landmark Live productions streamed to date include:
The Approach by Mark O’Rowe Backwards Up a Rainbow with
broadcast live from Project Arts Centre, Rosaleen Linehan and Conor Linehan
Dublin co-produced with Lovano
broadcast live from the Pavilion
Happy Days by Samuel Beckett Theatre, Dún Laoghaire
presented in association with the
Olympia Theatre The First Child music by Donnacha
broadcast live from Olympia Theatre Dennehy and libretto by Enda Walsh
co-produced with Irish National Opera
Ross O’Carroll-Kelly, broadcast live from the O’Reilly Theatre
Postcards from the Ledge as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival
broadcast live from Mermaid Arts
Centre, Bray The Book of Names by Louise Lowe
co-produced with ANU Productions
The Saviour by Deirdre Kinahan broadcast live from The Pumphouse,
broadcast live from the Everyman Dublin Port as part of the Dublin
Theatre as part of Cork Midsummer Theatre Festival
Festival
Walking with Ghosts by Gabriel Byrne
Medicine by Enda Walsh co-produced with Lovano
co-produced with Galway filmed at The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin.
International Arts Festival broadcast
live from the Black Box Theatre as part Stay tuned for details of more live
of Galway International Arts Festival broadcasts coming in 2022.
landmarkproductions.iePAGE 20 WALKING WITH GHOSTS WALKING WITH GHOSTS PAGE 21
A Brief History
of the Gaiety Theatre
Since the glamorous night of its opening on 27th November 1871, with the
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland as Guest of Honour and a double bill of Goldsmith’s
evergreen comedy “She Stoops to Conquer” followed by the tuneful burlesque
“La Belle Sauvage”, The Gaiety Theatre has remained true to the vision of its
founders in presenting the highest quality musical and dramatic entertainment.
A
s Dublin’s longest established theatre Changes of ownership does not greatly concern programme. In 2003, the owners invested over €2.15 The Gaiety Theatre has hosted many prestigious
in continuous production, The Gaiety audiences as long as the comfort of the auditorium million in the biggest restoration programme The individuals over the years including Cillian Murphy,
triumphantly maintains its unrivalled and the standard of what is seen on the stage are Gaiety Theatre has seen in over 50 years including Brendan Gleeson, Peter O’ Toole, Siobhan McKenna,
presence as the city’s premier venue for maintained. the installation of an air conditioning system and new Billy Connolly, Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Andrews,
popular musical shows, opera, ballet, dance and seating with increased legroom for improved patron Ray McAnally, Michael Gambon, Jack Benny, Sara
drama. The inspiration behind The Gaiety Theatre Successive managements have seen to these essentials; comfort. The fruits of this enterprise may already be Bernhardt, John Hurt, Anna Manahan, Frank Kelly,
came from the energetic Gunn brothers, John and the two, which probably left the most enduring mark in seen on the street frontage, with the theatre façade Des Keogh, Rupert Everett and Pavarotti to name but
Michael, whose background was a family music the 20th century, were the Louis Elliman Group from and bronze handprints, as well as inside the theatre. a few. This glamour and excitement continues today.
business on Grafton Street. They engaged the eminent 1936 to 1965, and Eamon Andrews studios from 1965 In 2007 the Minister of Arts, Sport and Tourism, John Working with the highest level of Irish producers,
architect C.J. Phipps, whose original design in the to 1984. It was ‘Mr Louis’ who instituted the home- O’Donoghue TD, awarded a very generous grant actors and directors, as well as internationally
manner of the traditional European opera house produced - as distinct from imported - Christmas of €7.5 million with the Theatre owners, Denis and renowned productions, The Gaiety Theatre continues
has given us the essential Gaiety, with its handsome pantomimes. He engaged O’D Productions - the Caroline, contributing a further €2 million towards to excel in creating an outstanding theatre experience.
Venetian façade, familiar to us all. Astonishingly, comedy writer Barry O’Donovan and his professional the cost of the project. The works concluded with the
only 25 weeks elapsed between the laying of the partner, the incomparable comedian Jimmy O’Dea complete rebuild of the stage including enlargement
foundations and the opening night - the contractors - to present the panto, and also the annual summer of orchestra, stage and scenery flying accommodation.
working a 24-hour shift! After twelve years of marked variety show. Other works included dressing room upgrades; fire
success, the most distinguished theatre architect of upgrades throughout the premises; roof works and
the day, Frank Matcham, was brought in to create O’Dea was later joined by the young Maureen Potter, refurbishment of front of house and bar areas. These
the commodious parterre and dress-circle bars in the who quickly established herself as ‘Ireland’s Queen of works have enabled the Theatre to programme a wider
extension to the west of the auditorium, which he then Comedy’. To two generations of Dubliners the name repertoire of productions enhancing the cultural life
redecorated. Thus, we have Phipps to thank for the ‘The Gaiety’ was synonymous with the sparkle, the fun, of the city as well as ensuring the future of The Gaiety
Gaiety’s elegant form, and Matcham for its charming the magic and, yes, The Gaiety of their performances. Theatre.
baroque adornments.
It was during the Eamonn Andrews era that the Maureen Potter- who was the smiling face of The Gaiety
Phipps’ theatre had three balconies. In 1955, mainly for Gaiety’s audience swelled on one famous night to 400 to thousands of Dubliners - said that ‘The Gaiety is the
reasons of safety, the steep top gallery - known as ‘the million for the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest - the most aptly named place I know’. Cyril Cusack once
gods’ – was removed, and the centre balcony extended first to be held in Ireland, and RTE’s earliest colour referred to ‘the fair balance of tragedy and comedy,
backwards to create the present Grand and Upper transmission of an indoor event, the Gaiety’s pretty of merriment and wisdom, and not without a proper
Circles. Other improvements to the public spaces were interior receiving much praise from around the world. ingredient of controversy’. In his autobiography,
made at the same time. In 1984 the backstage area was Micheál MacLíammóir wrote of The Gaiety as ‘a place
rebuilt with a levelling of the old ‘raked’ stage and the The Gaiety Theatre’s present owners, Denis Desmond of breadth and dignity’ and Milo O’Shea has written
installation of a modern counterweight system for and Caroline Downey, and its then Managing Director, that ‘Dublin without The Gaiety would be a city bereft
flying scenery. John Costigan, instituted an extensive conservation of an important element of glamour and excitement’.PAGE 22 WALKING WITH GHOSTS WALKING WITH GHOSTS PAGE 23
THANK YOU
We are grateful to the following for their help with this production:
APML, John Brown, Prof. Lorraine Byrne Bodley, Amir Carmel, Patricia Carroll,
Frank Commins, Cue One, Dr. Tim Delaney, Stephen Faloon, Darragh Finn,
Iain Friel, Georgia Gatti, Irish National Opera, James King, Cormac Kinsella,
John McColgan, Gus McDonagh, Sean McKeown, Charlotte Moore and Ciarán
O’Reilly at Irish Repertory Theatre (New York), Mosco Sound, Iain Mullins, Noel
Murphy, Barry O’Brien, Ciaran O’Dea, Shauna O’Neill, Gavin O’Sullivan, Press
Up Hospitality Group, Rían Smith, Noel Storey at Beacon Studios, Jack Tantleff,
Eleanor White, Jonathan White and Willie White as well as Denis Desmond,
Caroline Downey, Laura McGuigan, Sarah Hall and all at the Gaiety Theatre.
Thank you to our Media Partners: The Irish Times and RTÉ Radio 1.
Signature to The Riordans (1977), composed by Seóirse Bodley.
Special thanks to Teri Hayden.
And thank you to Hannah Byrne.
Landmark Productions and Lovano wish to thank Minister Catherine Martin and
the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media for their
support under the Live Performance Support Scheme 2022, without which it
would not have been possible to bring this production to the stage.PAGE 24 WALKING WITH GHOSTS
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