Aidan Gillen Stars in Abbey Theatre’s
FaithHealer 40 years since directing the Irish premiere of Faith Healer at the Abbey, Joe Dowling returns to the theatre with a new production of Brian Friel’s masterpiece from March 30 to May 16, recruiting a stellar cast to join him.
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his new Abbey Theatre production will feature in her Abbey debut Niamh Cusack, Olivier Award nominee Nigel Lindsay and Tony Award nominee Aidan Gillen. The latter is also renowned for his parts in iconic TV shows like Game of Thrones, Love/Hate, Peaky Blinders and
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TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE - MARCH 2020
The Wire and movies such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Calvary, Sing Street and The Dark Knight Rises. First produced in 1979, Friel’s play is about the life of the faith healer Frank Hardy (Gillen). This is as monologued through the shifting memories of Frank, his wife Grace and stage manager Teddy –
each character offering new perspective and revelations on their momentous lives together. Travelling through remote and isolated areas in Scotland and Wales, Frank offers his unique cure to the most desperate and hopeless of people. Does he actually possess a gift ? Or are these rare and miracle healings only tricks of the mind? “Faith Healer is Friel’s masterpiece,” said Dowling in a statement, speaking about revisiting the work. “The complex storytelling, the powerful language and characters and its unique form make it one of the great plays in Abbey history. I am honored to direct it again after all these years with a superb cast and design team.” Directors of the Abbey Theatre Graham McLaren and Neil Murray added: “Faith Healer is one of our favourite plays. The chance to be in this building producing it is a real thrill of a lifetime. As we begin to see a new National Theatre on the horizon for Ireland, we want to honour some of the historic moments of our current building.” “The Abbey’s production of Brian Friel’s spectacular play in 1980 was a moment of great significance. Who better to revisit the play than the director of that lauded production and one of our predecessors – the wonderful Joe Dowling. We are
