DOUBLE CROSS
DURING WWII A PROPAGANDA BATTLE ENSUES BETWEEN IRISHMEN BRENDAN BRACKEN AND WILLIAM JOYCE, BETTER KNOWN AS LORD HAW HAW
Written by Thomas KilroyDirected by Jimmy Fay
A NOTE FROM JIMMY FAY, DIRECTOR
Welcome to the Lyric theatre and our co-production with the Abbey Theatre of Thomas Kilroy’s Double Cross
Thomas Kilroy is one of our most venerable and inspirational playwrights. He has had a long and distinguished career. His oeuvre is highly adventurous, erudite and idiosyncratic. One of his favourite themes is to place the non-conformist, the eponymous outsider, the stranger at the centre of events.
In Double Cross it is the doppelgänger device. The double. Brendan Bracken and William Joyce. We meet both men at a time of individual crisis. Brendan Bracken, at the beginning of the war, is haunted by the Nazi propagandist Lord Haw Haw, William Joyce. Joyce, at the end of the war in the bombed-out radio station that has been his platform to the world, is haunted by the failure of his Nazi ideology to bring in a bright new fascist dawn.
The play is in fact two linked plays which places the lives of two Irish men who emigrated to England just as the south of Ireland gained independence; and consequently metamorphosed into extreme forms of Englishmen. Each rose to extraordinary prominence in war-torn Britain. Although, as Kilroy
proposes, they struggled with their divided Irish/English selves. The Tipperary born Brendan Bracken rose to the very epicentre of power, when England was at her most vulnerable, becoming Minister of Information during WW2. And William Joyce from Galway exploded to notoriety as the bogeyman of blitzed-out British anxiety: Lord Haw Haw, scaring a nation with Nazi propaganda.
When researching this play Thomas went to the BBC archives and listened to both Bracken’s and Joyce’s speeches from the 40s. He says of the experience “There was an eerie similarity in the accents. Both were concoctions with hints of other accents, faint echoes of other lives, below the surface”. This eeriness Kilroy built into his play, which is an uncompromising exploration of identity, power and paranoia.
Why stage Double Cross now thirty years after its first production? Partly because the time is ripe to use a play of such inquisitiveness on the nature of identity and political extremity to examine our own dark times. The 1930’s, the decade that followed on from the great financial crisis of 1929, were called the “low dishonest decade” by poet of the age W.H. Auden; “Waves of anger and fear/circulate over the bright/And darkened lands of
the earth/Obsessing our private lives.” It was a time when extremism came to the fore. When people from afar were blamed for current woes. A time when far right groups made major political gains based on a creed of opportunistic patriotism and enflaming latent racist prejudices. History may repeat, first as tragedy and then as farce. And certainly wherever you look in this era of Brexit, Trump, Putin, you see a lot of tragic farce. This is not to say the present is a reduced legacy on the past but we remain haunted by former atrocities. Like warnings from history.
In the 1930s and the 1940s it was the radio that dominated. And probably no other communication tool has had such a collective effect. If Orson Welles’ Mercury Theatre on the Air production of H.G.Wells’ ‘War of the Worlds’ could cause widespread panic in the states in 1938, imagine how the voice of Lord Haw Haw could shred nerves in poor abandoned Britain during the early, desperate, stages of the war. Especially when Hitler seemed unstoppable. The ghoulish, haunting voice calling out through the static of the airwaves “Germany calling, Germany calling”.
The great author George Orwell would go to work for Brendan Bracken in the wartime ministry of information. Orwell became so
deeply suspicious of Bracken’s administration of information and its relation to truth that he invented a language, Newspeak, which he incorporated into his masterpiece 1984. At the centre of this ominous world exists a deity called Big Brother. Who is this character based on exactly? Hitler, Stalin? Some think the clue is in the initials: B.B. Apparently Bracken’s office in the ministry was room 101. Brendan Bracken also makes an appearance in another literary masterpiece, Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited as the social climbing, deceitful Rex Mottram, the callous seducer of the adored Julia. But Julia catches Mottram/Bracken’s character succinctly – “Rex isn’t anybody at all”. She says, “He just doesn’t exist”.
William Joyce’s execution for treason is still debated to this day as “bad law”. Joyce for all his preening wasn’t English as he was American born and raised in Ireland from the age of three. His life and grim end has inspired quite a few biographies including a new one published only last year.
All this and more is explored in Thomas’ fascinating play. We hope you enjoy our production of it.
INTERVIEW: WITH THOMAS KILROY “I WAS A CHILD OF THE HITLER WAR”
NOTE FROM RICHARD WAKELY, BELFAST INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL
Welcome to the 2018 edition of the Belfast International Arts Festival and this new production of Thomas Kilroy’s acclaimed play, Double Cross
the face of the growth of populist and nationalist movements and the debate around truth and facts versus “fake news”.
“Double Cross” was first produced in the Guildhall in Derry/ Londonderry as part of the annual Field Day enterprise on 13 February 1986, then toured Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, before transferring to the Royal Court in London. Copyright agent: Alan Brodie Representation Ltd. www.alanbrodie.com
What inspired you to write the play?
Some time in the early days of Field Day, Brian Friel and Stephen Rea came to my home in County Mayo and asked me to write a play for the company. I had just written a radio play about Brendan Bracken for the BBC. I told them that I was now thinking about a stage play bringing in a second man William Joyce, Lord Haw Haw. I told Stephen that I had in mind that both parts would be played by the same actor. Yes, I told him, I had been thinking of him to play both parts. It was a long afternoon of intense conversation. By the time Brian and Stephen left for home I had the shape of the play in my head.
When researching Bracken and Joyce, what similarities and/ or differences struck you most about their characters?
The thing that attracted my interest
was that both of them were Irish and that the Irishness was what drove them to such extremes. They were also contemporaries at a time when Ireland and Europe were going through turbulent times. I had a great personal interest in the Second World War. Indeed, you could say that I was a child of the Hitler war. I felt I could bring all this together in the one play.
Has your perspective on the play changed since it was first performed?
Absolutely. I have actually done some crucial rewriting for this production. I have tried to make Bracken’s obsession with Joyce more dramatic. The myth of fratricide, of Cain and Abel, was in my imagination as I wrote. None of this obsession has any basis in fact. It is all invented. I think the play is better structured now. At least, I hope so!
Do you see any parallels between the play’s themes and the current political climate?
I think we all found echoes in the play of Donald Trump and the rise of right-wing nationalism and fascism in Europe and elsewhere. It is extraordinary that this should be happening all over again, particularly in Germany, Poland and Hungary, places where that savage war was fought on these same issues, all those years ago in the last century.
Whilst at the Abbey Theatre, I was fortunate enough to have worked with Tom on the revival of his play, The Secret Fall of Constance Wilde (Autumn 2000). Like Double Cross it is a technically complex and challenging work. Many of Tom’s plays including these two are about the nature of theatricality. He once said in a press interview “I like to keep the sense of theatricality side by side with the story that I’m telling.” Also central to his work is the quest for the truth. “I think all writing looks for truth,” he says and adds: “I hate making claims for profundity... I would say my plays are concerned with cutting through illusion. But I’m also aware that it’s a kind of fruitless exercise. As we’re constantly surrounded by illusion everywhere, in theatre and life.” The two plays though are very different. The Secret Fall of Constance Wilde explores gender and sexuality through the hidden life of Constance Lloyd, wife of Oscar Wilde whilst Double Cross, set during World War 2, looks at the shortcomings of nationalism through the drama of two real-life Irishmen - Brendan Bracken, British MP and Minister for Information to the government of Winston Churchill, and Nazi propagandist William Joyce (better known as Lord Haw-Haw) – pretending to be otherwise. Both subject matters are keenly relevant in today’s fractious world. Thirty two years after its premiere, Double Cross takes on a new significance in
Double Cross is one of several theatre productions that feature in our special “Homegrown” programme strand that celebrates the work of local artists and theatre companies. Also at the Lyric is the world premiere of Marie Jones’ Dear Arabella whilst the MAC hosts a revival of Hugh Stoddart’s Gibraltar Strait for Brassneck Theatre, a powerful, balanced and thought-provoking verbatim account of eyewitness testimonies and oral recordings from those involved in the shooting of 3 IRA members in Gibraltar in 1988 (23–27 October). Another world premiere, Zoe Seaton and Nicky Harley’s dark and funny Freak Show for Big Telly (31 October to 3 November) is perfect for those seeking spooky theatre thrills over Halloween.
Our success and that of our partners, like the Lyric Theatre, reflects the continued support the Festival receives from our core funders – The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, the British Council, and Tourism Northern Ireland. Together we are working hard to underscore Belfast’s credentials as a world class centre of arts and culture for all to experience and enjoy.
Richard Wakely Artistic Director and Chief Executive Belfast International Arts FestivalBelfastInternationalArtsFestival.com
#Belfest2018
COSTUME DESIGN
Lord Castlerosse, Lord Beaverbrook (Max Aitnen), Fire Warden, Erich and all other male roles
Sean Kearns
Margaret, Popsie, Journalist and all other female roles:
Charlotte McCurry
Brendan Bracken and William Joyce: Ian Toner
PRODUCTION TEAM
Acting Company Stage Manager
Aimee Yates
Deputy Stage Manager
Stephen Dix
Assistant Stage Manager Kerry McGimpsey
Casting Director: Clare Gault
Acting Technical Manager: Ian Vennard
Technician:
Alan Mooney
Set Builders:
CREDITS & THANKS CAST CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Thomas Kilroy
Director:
Jimmy Fay
Set Design: Ciaran Bagnall
Costume Design: Gillian Lennox
Lighting Design: Paul Keogan
Sound Design: Chris Warner
Video Design: Neil O’Driscoll
Steven Bamford Phillip Goss
Wardrobe Assistant: Erin Charteris
Costume Maker: Mel Lyle
Hair artist: Kelly McLean
MUA:
Caroline Reynolds
Wig maker: The Natural Hair Company Lisburn
THE LYRIC THEATRE WOULD LIKE TO THANK...
Hollie Morrison
Linda Doogan at Portadown College
Stephen Beggs at Southbank
McCusker Pro Audio
Derek O’Connor
Neil Murray
Graham McLaren
Fiach MacConghail
Aideen Howard
Patricia McBride
Declan Conlon
Catherine Walker
Charlie Bonner
Jessica Traynor
“WE HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR THE ENEMY WITHIN.”
Brendan Bracken
SET DESIGN
“THE SET DESIGN FOR DOUBLE CROSS WAS GREATLY INSPIRED BY THE ART DECO ERA OF THE 1930’S IN IN PARTICULAR THE DESIGN OF THE MARCONI RADIOGRAM. WITHIN THE PLAY THIS DEVICE, AN IMPORTANT TOOL OF PROPAGANDA MACHINE, IS USED AT GREAT AFFECT TO DISTORT AND REINVENT THE TWO MAIN CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY.”
“WHEN A MAN WIPES OUT HIS PAST AND INVENTS HIS OWN FUTURE HE MAY HAVE CRIMINAL OR ARTISTIC TENDENCIES.”
Actress, Double Cross
Set Designer, Ciaran Bagnall, on the design of Double Cross
“QUESTION: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN IRISHMAN’S NEED TO CONCEAL HIS IRISHNESS AND AN ENGLISHMAN’S NEED TO BELIEVE IN THE CONCEALMENT?”
Actor, Double Cross
“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WE CANNOT VOUCH FOR THE ACCURACY OF ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO FOLLOW – EVEN OF WHAT IS VERIFIABLE IN THE HISTORY BOOKS –IT HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER TO MAKE A POINT.”
Actor, Double Cross
MEET THE CAST
SEAN KEARNS CHARLOTTE McCURRY IAN TONER
Lyric Productions include Good Vibrations, Weddins Weans and Wakes, The Crucible, As The Beast Sleeps, Of Mice and Men, The Importance of Being Earnest, Comedians, Oliver, The Sound Of Music, Annie, and Orphans
Other Theatre incudes The Last Ship (UK and Irish Tour) The Comedy About A Bank Robbery (Criterion Theatre) Wicked (Apollo Victoria) The Commitments (Palace Theatre) Billy Elliot the Musical (Victoria Palace) The Thirty Nine Steps (Criterion Theatre) Measure for Measure (Almeida) Henry the Fourth, pts. 1 + 2, Bedlam, A New World and As You Like It, (Shakespeare’s Globe) The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew, Macbett, God in Ruins and Macbeth (Royal Shakespeare Company) The Coronation Voyage, The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek (Prime Cut) The Chairs, Ruby, Second Hand Thunder (Tinderbox) Jane Eyre, The Importance of Being Earnest and Pride and Prejudice (Gate Theatre Dublin) Northern Star, Digging For Fire, Lady Windermere’s Fan (Rough Magic) In a Little World of Our Own, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Trojan Women, (Abbey Theatre Dublin).
TV: includes As the Beast Sleeps, Ballykissangel, Safe And Sound, Children of the North (BBC), The Governor (Samson Films), Extra Extra! (RTE) and The Last Of The Dying Race (UTV/Ch 4).
FILM: includes Puckoon (Studio Eight Productions/Bord Scannán na hÉireann) Angela’s Ashes (David Brown Prods), Durango (Hallmark Prods).
Charlotte was born and lives in Belfast. She trained at Guildford School of Acting, graduating with first class honours and was the recipient of the Sir Alec Guinness Memorial Award.
Previous work at the Lyric includes; Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood & The Big Bad Wolf, The Jungle Book, The Crucible
Other work includes; Annie (Cork Opera House), Nivelli’s War (Lyric Theatre/ New Victory Theatre New York/ Cahoots NI), Pinocchio (The Mac/ Cahoots NI), The Father, The Threepenny Opera (Gate Theatre Dublin), Oedipus, She Stoops to Conquer, The Risen People, The Dead, The Picture of Dorian Gray (Abbey Theatre), Big Maggie, DruidShakespeare, Conversations on a Homecoming (Druid), Northern Star (Rough Magic), Hedda (Green Room), Both Sides (Ransom), The Great Carmo! (Cahoots NI), The Haunting of Helena Blunden (Big Telly), The Famous Five (Tabard Theatre), Kitty and Damnation (Lion & Unicorn), Jack & the Beanstalk (Grand Opera House, Belfast)
Television work includes; The Titanic Inquiry and Our William (BBCNI).
Joyce, Lord Haw Haw
Ian trained at the Gaiety School of Acting.
Lyric Theatre credits: Punk Rock (2015 Nominated Best Supporting Actor Irish Times Theatre Award).
Other Theatre credits: Look Back in Anger, Romeo and Juliet, The Vortex (Gate Theatre), The Shitstorm (Peacock Theatre), Wild Sky (Bewley’s Cafe Theatre, national/ international tour), At the Ford (The New Theatre/DTF).
Film & TV credits: Catch 22 (Paramount/Hulu), Woman in White (BBC), Younger (TV Land), Redwater (BBC), Rebellion (RTE), An Klondike (TG4), We Have Always Lived in the Castle (Castleblackwood), The Cured (Tilted Pictures).
“MY FRIENDS, THE WAR IN THE WEST IS OVER. ONLY ONE ENEMY OF GERMANY REMAINS: ENGLAND.”
William
“THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT DEMOCRACY IF SUCH A TRICKSTER CAN RISE TO THE TOP?”
William Joyce, Lord Haw Haw
“THERE ARE IRISH AND THEN THERE ARE IRISH AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER IRISH.”
Lord Castlerosse
“FREEDOM IS DISTANCE, ACTUALLY. EVERY MAN SHOULD HAVE SPACE BETWEEN HIM AND ANOTHER.”
Brendan Bracken
CREATIVE BIOGRAPHIES
THOMAS KILROY WRITER
Thomas Kilroy has written eighteen plays for the stage, most of which have been performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, and a prize-winning novel The Big Chapel. In the 2004 Irish Times Theatre Awards he received a Special Tribute for his contribution to theatre and he was presented with the PEN Ireland Cross Award for his contribution to literature in 2008. He is Emeritus Professor of Modern English at NUI Galway, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College Dublin. In 2016 he was awarded the Ulysses Medal by University College Dublin.
JIMMY FAY DIRECTOR
Jimmy is the Executive Producer of the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, where he has directed productions of Fire Below by Owen McCafferty, The Ladykillers by Graham Linehan, St. Joan by Bernard Shaw, Here Comes the Night by Rosemary Jenkinson, Pentecost by Stewart Parker, Mixed Marriage by St John Ervine and True West by Sam Shepard.
He has been an Associate Artist of the Abbey Theatre, having also spent time there as Staff Director, Associate Director and Literary Director. Directing work at the Abbey includes the acclaimed production of Owen McCafferty’s Quietly (also toured to Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013 and the Irish Rep, New York 2016), The Risen People, The Government Inspector, Curse of the Starving Class, Macbeth, The Playboy of the Western World, Ages of the Moon, The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui, The Seafarer, Saved, The School for Scandal, Howie the Rookie, True West, Henry IV, The Muesli Belt, At Swim-Two-Birds, Melonfarmer and The Papar
In New York he directed the world premiere production of Sam Shepard’s play Ages of the Moon starring Stephen Rea at the Atlantic Theatre.
Jimmy created and established the Dublin Fringe Festival, now in its 21st year. He was Artistic Director
of one of Dublin’s most popular independent theatre companies, Bedrock Productions from 1993–2009. Directing credits there include the Irish premieres of internationally vibrant new plays such as This Is Our Youth, Roberto Zucco, Blasted, Night Just Before The Forest, Quay West, and Faraway
In 2007 he was invited to curate an innovative and successful theatre programme for the prestigious Kilkenny Arts Festival.
He has worked as Director with Landmark Productions on the hugely commercially successful productions of Breaking Dad, Between Foxrock and a Hard Place, and The Last Days of the Celtic Tiger, all by Paul Howard.
CIARAN BAGNALL SET DESIGN
Born: Newry, Co.Down. Currently lives: Belfast. Trained at: Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff. Made Honourary fellow of the College in July 2018.
Lyric Theatre Credits: Set & Lighting Design for Lovers, Beauty and the Beast, What the Reindeer Saw, RED, White Star of the North. Set Design for Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching towards the Somme. Lighting Design for The Weir, Three Sisters, St Joan, Pentecost, Philadephia, Here I come!, The Little Prince and Pump Girl
Recent Lighting and Set Designs include: The Mai, (Decadent Theatre Company); The World Goes Round/ Luminaire Club (MAC, Belfast); The Man who fell to Pieces (Tinderbox, MAC, Belfast); Hard to be Soft (MAC, Belfast); The Great Gatsby (Gate Theatre, Dublin); The Train (Abbey Theatre, Dublin); Ashes, Educating Rita (Octagon Theatre, Bolton); Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe, London); Singin’ in the Rain (UK Tour); Othello (RSC, Stratford upon Avon); Snookered (Bush Theatre, London); The Killing of Sister George (Arts Theatre, London); A Slight Ache and Landscape (Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre London).
Recent Lighting Designs include: These Rooms (ANU, Shoreditch Town Hall, London); Hamlet (Octagon,
Bolton); Dido, Queen of Carthage (RSC); After the Dance (Theatre by the Lake, Keswick); The Pillowman (Gaiety, Dublin); Perseverance Drive (The Bush Theatre, London); Home (National Theatre Shed, London); Much Ado about Nothing (RSC, Stratford Upon Avon & London West End).
Awards: 2017 Best Set Design
Irish Times Theatre Awards – RED & The Great Gatsby. 2016 Best Design
Manchester Theatre Awards – Singin’ in the Rain. 2014 Best Lighting Design
Irish Times Theatre Awards – Pentecost
2009 Best Design Manchester Theatre Awards - Oleanna
Reisopera, Netherlands); Powder Her Face (Teatro Arriaga, Bilbao); Lost (Ballet Ireland); Flight (Rambert); No Man’s Land (English National Ballet); Cassandra, Hansel and Gretel (Royal Ballet).
GILLIAN LENNOX COSTUME DESIGN PAUL KEOGAN
After graduating with BA Hons in Fashion and Textiles at The University of Ulster Gillian Lennox went on to be a designer within the Fashion Industry.
Previous designs for the Lyric include; Sinners, Here Comes The Night, Little Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf, Christmas Eve can Kill You and Mixed Marriage.
Other theatre credits include: Lady Windermere’s Fan, De Profundis, The Miser, Smaller (West End); The Caretaker (Bristol Old Vic); The Snapper, Hamlet, The Red Shoes, The Birds (Gate Theatre, Dublin); On Raftery’s Hill, Porcelain, Katie Roche, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, The Plough and The Stars, Cyprus Avenue, Shibboleth, Our Few and Evil Days, The Risen People (Abbey Theatre, Dublin); Incantata, Trad, The Matchbox (Galway International); Far Away, Sacrifice at Easter (Corcadorca, Cork); A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, The Gaul (Hull Truck Theatre); Blue/Orange, Tribes (Crucible Studio, Sheffield); Born Bad, The Stock Da’wa (Hampstead); The Fairy Queen (RIAM Dublin); Novecento (Trafalgar Studios, London); Big Maggie (Druid, Galway); A Streetcar Named Desire (Playhouse, Liverpool); Postcards from The Ledge, The Walworth Farce (Landmark, Dublin).
Opera & Dance credits include: Falstaff (Vienna Staatsoper); Jenufa, La Bohème, Eugene Onegin, Idomeneo, Les Dialogues des Carmelites (Grange Park Opera UK); Powder Her Face (Teatro Arriaga, Bilbao); Maria de Buenos Aires (Cork Opera House); Wake (Nationale
After a spell working for Marks And Spencer Menswear Gillian began a 14-year career working for a London based manufacturing/design company where she progressed to head designer supplying companies such as online retailer ASOS. Her designs for ASOS and A-Wear were often featured in magazine editorials.
Gillian’s work often took her overseas to Paris, Syria and Morocco where she gained insight into the entire process of textile design, garment and pattern construction.
Throughout her career Gillian also continued with her own freelance work and has been a maker and illustrator for Universal Studios when they first came to Northern Ireland with films such as Your Highness.
Gillian has also assisted on the BBC Proms and Children in Need and last year designed and made the costumes for The Belfast Mela South Asian Dance Academy.
Before being appointed as Costume Supervisor with the Lyric Theatre in August 2017 Gillian freelanced as a maker with the Lyric Theatre, working on various productions including Little Red, Ginger Bread Mix Up, 39 Steps and Lady Killers
In 2018 Gillian designed the costumes for The Lyric Creative Learning Department’s production of the World War I play Dr Scroggy’s War. And most recently was one of the costume designers for Good Vibrations
Later this year Gillian will be designing the costumes for the upcoming Lyric Productions Double Cross and Alice: the Musical
CHRIS WARNER SOUND DESIGN
Chris is a composer, sound designer, musical arranger and orchestrator whose range of work covers theatre, television and film.
Lyric Theatre credits as composer and sound designer include: Blackout, Dr Scroggy’s War, The Heresy of Love, The Patriot Game, 55 Days (for Creative Learning). Other recent composing and sound design credits include: Macbeth (RSC Associated Schools), 84 Charing Cross Road (Cambridge Arts Theatre, National Tour), Frank Carson Rebel Without A Pause, The Boat Factory (Happenstance Theatre Company), Archie in Manhattan (Grand Opera House).
As a composer for TV and Media Chris is published by Audio Network, producing original music that is featured extensively in TV, film and advertising in this country and around the world. His five most recent albums have all been recorded at Abbey Road and have been used on programmes such as Sky Sports, The Apprentice and the One Show Specific theme tunes include: A History of British Comedy with David Mitchell (BBC Radio 2), The Day I Met The Queen, One Week In August, The Lost World of the Suffragettes (BBC Radio 4).
Recent orchestration credits for theatre, television and the wider media include: The Merry Wives of Windsor (The Royal Shakespeare Company), McMafia (BBC1, Series 1), Make a Musical (BBC Learning, BAFTA nominated); A Portrait of John Doe (MercuryKX Records); Waiting Room (Ballet commissioned by Thüringen Staatsballet Germany).
NEIL O’DRISCOLL VIDEO DESIGN
Neil O’Driscoll studied animation and crafts before graduating with a degree in film and TV from Edinburgh college of Art. Since then he has worked between illustration, film and theatre, designing projections for shows including The Risen People at the Abbey Theatre, Gullivers Travels at the Lyric and A Holy Show on the Peacock stage (Abbey Theatre). As well as creating content for live performance, Neil undertakes portraiture commissions, most recently for Dublin City Council, and has illustrated several comic books, as well as writing and directing two shorts and one feature length film, Waking The Witch
REHEARSALS
“I WAS UNFREE. EVERY DAY OF MY CHILDHOOD I WOULD SAY: TOMORROW, TOMORROW I’M GOING TO BE FREE.”
Brendan Bracken
LYRIC STAFF LIST ABBEY STAFF LIST
Board of Directors
Sir Bruce Robinson (Chairman)
Stephen Douds (Vice Chairman)
Phil Cheevers
Olwen Dawe
Nuala Donnelly
Patricia McBride
Mike Mullan
Dr Mark Phelan
Patron
Liam Neeson OBE
Executive Producer
Jimmy Fay
Producer
Bronagh McFeely
Casting Director
Clare Gault
Literary Manager
Rebecca Mairs
Head of Development and Marketing
Claire Murray
Marketing Manager
Aisling McKenna
Marketing Officer
Aiveen Kelly
Marketing Assistant
Katie Armstrong
Production Assistant
Kerry Fitzsimmons
PR & Press
Carolyn Mathers
Acting Company Stage Manager
Aimee Yates
Deputy Stage Manager
Tracey Lindsay
Assistant Stage Managers
Louise Bryans
Stephen Dix
Kerri McGimpsey
Acting Technical Manager
Ian Vennard
Technician
Alan Mooney
Costume Supervisor
Gillian Lennox
Costume Assistant
Erin Charteris
Head Of Finance and HR
Micheál Meegan
Finance Officer
Toni Harris Patton
Finance Assistant
Sinead Glymond
Head of Creative Learning
Philip Crawford
Creative Learning Manager
Pauline McKay
Creative Learning Schools
Co-Ordinator
Erin Hoey
Head of Customer Service
Julie McKegney
Customer Service Managers
Marina Hampton
Ashlene McGurk
Duty Supervisors
Hannah Conlon
Ella Griffin
Dónal Morgan
Box Office Supervisor
Emily White
Box Office Deputy Supervisor
Paul McCaffrey
Housekeeping
Debbie Duff
Amanda Richards
Samantha Walker
Customer Service Staff
Lucy Armstrong
Pamela Armstrong
Abby Atkinson
Laurie Bailey
Luke Bannon
Michael Bingham
Carla Bryson
Hannah Conlon
Ellison Craig
Gary Crossan
Alacoque Davey
Amanda Doherty
Chris Grant
Adele Gribbon
Simon Hall
Cathal Henry
Teresa Hill
Megan Keenan
Helenna Howie
Gerard Kelly
Julie Lamberton
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Patricia McGreevy
Mary McManus
Cathan McRoberts
Catherine Moore
Dónal Morgan
Seamus O’Hara
Bernadette Owens
Bobbi Rai Purdy
Volunteers
Jean Dumas
Yvonne Dumas
Joan Gormley
Rory McCadden
Bronagh McCallister
Ian McMaster
Gavin Moriarty
Board of Directors
Dónall Curtin
Pádraig Cusack
Jane Daly
Loretta Dignam
Sarah Durcan
Bosco Hogan
Kevin McFadden
Sheelagh O’Neill
Dr. Frances Ruane (Chair)
Michael Wall
Andrea Ainsworth
Gina Arkins
Donal Ayton
Cliff Barragry
Aoife Brady
Niamh Buckley
Orla Burke
Eoin Byrne
Maura Campbell
David Carpenter
Luke Casserly
Niall Clinton
Connall Coleman
Derek Conaghy
Evan Connolly
Jen Coppinger
Ailbhe Cowley
Johnathon Crabtree
Diane Crotty
Mairéad Delaney
Sean Dennehy
Pat Dillon
Debbie Doak
Con Doyle
Emma Doyle
Laura Doyle
Pat Doyle
Ken Dunne
Tom Elliot
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Eimer Farrell
Lisa Farrelly
John Finnegan
David Fleming
Veronica Foo
Tara Furlong
Sophie Furlong
Orla Gallagher
Derek Garland
Donna Geraghty
Sandra Gibney
David Groves
John Gunning
Emma Hanley
Fergus Hannigan
Chris Hay
Stephanie Herlihy
Dermot Hicks
Daniel Hickey
James Hickson
Nelly Henrion
Steven Ho
Dara Hogan
Laura Honan
Brian Horgan
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Narges Jahani
Larry Jones
Maeve Keane
Ailbhe Kelly Miller
Tom Kennedy
Brian Kelly
Fergus Kelly
Wesley Kelly
Shane Kenny
Andy Keogh
Phil Kingston
Anne Kyle
Mike Kyle
Marie Lawlor
Adrian Leake
Sarah Ling
Michael Loughnane
Niamh Lunny
Ciara Lynch
Sarah Lynch
Bridget Lynskey Faust
Darren Magnier
Claire Maher
Heather Maher
Patricia Malpas
Elaine Mannion
Shannon Matthews
Kate McCann
Davy McChrystal
Dan McDermott
Kevin McFadden
Róisín McGann
Ciaran McGlynn
Leo McKenna
Graham McLaren
Caitríona McLaughlin
Shauna McNally
Kitty McLaughlin – Dunning
Victoria Miller
Stephen Molloy
Kerri Morris
Conor Mullan
Mags Mulvey
Donna Murphy
Eimer Murphy
Neil Murray
Agnieszka Myszka
Alexis Nealon
Pawel Nieworaj
Emily Ni Bhroin
Síofra Ní Chiardha
Holly O’Brien
Adam O’Connell
Bryan O’Connell
Donna Marie O’Donovan
Tara O’Reilly
Feidhlim O’Shea
Aoife O’Sullivan
Marisa Pearse
Laura Pulling
Valentina Quiroga
Martin Reid
Dean Reidy
Fiona Reynolds
Ed Rourke
Mick Russell
Pat Russell
Joe Sanders
Jack Scullion
Brian Smith
Eoin Stapleton
John Stapleton
Louise Stephens
Racheal Stout
Ceri May Thomas
Sean Treacy
Karen Lee Walpole
Sean Walsh
Jesse Weaver
Sally Withnell
Caitlin White
Sarah Jane Williams
Bill Woodland
Diarmuid Woods
Principal Funder Also Funded by Corporate Lounge Sponsor
The Lyric is also generously supported by
28 OCT 2018
LYRIC 50
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION EVENING
A celebration of 50 years on Ridgeway Street
PLUS A FULL PROGRAMME RIGHT ACROSS OUR BIRTHDAY WEEK
UNTIL 27 OCT DOUBLE CROSS
27 OCT BLACKOUT
28 OCT BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION EVENING
31 OCT FAMILY DAY
1–3 NOV NEW PLAYWRIGHTS SHOWCASE UNTIL 10 NOV DEAR ARABELLA