The Everyman was proud to present a major revival of Making History by Brian Friel, directed by The Everyman’s new Artistic Director Des Kennedy in his inaugural season.
“History has to be made – before it’s remade”
A secret marriage. An international alliance. A holy war.
Ireland, 1591…
Gaelic Ireland is on the brink of extinction under English occupation. Hugh O’Neill and Mabel Bagenal have married in secret. Irish clans have joined forces with the Spanish, and the Battle of Kinsale is about to change the course of Irish history…
The Everyman was proud to present a major revival of Brian Friel’s masterpiece about resistance, revolution and the remaking of heroes.
First performed by Field Day in 1988, the play follows Gaelic leader Hugh O’Neill in the events before and after the Battle of Kinsale and examines who gets to decide how history is recorded, told and retold.
Directed by The Everyman’s new Artistic Director Des Kennedy in his inaugural season, and with an internationally renowned creative team including Tony nominee Mel Mercier (Sound and Composition), Niall McKeever (Set), Catherine Fay (Costume), Sinead McKenna (Lighting), Emily Terndrup (Movement) and Daniele Lydon (Voice and Dialect).
For the first time ever, the role of O’Neill was played by 2 actors, who played Hugh at different points in his life. Aaron McCusker (Shameless, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Ferryman) and Cork acting legend Denis Conway (Alexander, The Gigli Concert, The Wind That Shakes the Barley) – who returned to the role having famously performed it in 2007 – shared the role of the great O’Neill. They were joined by Liadán Dunlea (Small Things Like These), Martha Dunlea (Lucy’s Passion, Abbey Theatre), Peter Gowen (Dancing at Lughnasa), Aron Hegarty (Then You Run for Sky Max), Chris McHallem (Normal People), Stephen O’Leary (The Summer I Robbed a Bank) and Ray Scannell (The Bluffer’s Guide to Suburbia).
Listen to an interview with Des Kennedy and Aaron McCusker on RTÉ Radio HERE.
‘Hugh O’Neill’ by Dr Hiram Morgan HERE
‘About Making History‘ by Dr Jane Ohlmeyer HERE
‘History Isn’t Over Yet…’ by Dr Mark Phelan HERE
‘Revisiting Making History‘ by Denis Conway, Chris McHallem and Peter Gowen HERE
★★★★ “Production quality is impressively high, from Mel Mercier’s typically apposite and accomplished soundscape to the distinctive modern costuming and set design…this is a strikingly ambitious production which rewards the decision to opt for a play of rigour and intent” – Irish Examiner (read full review HERE)
“compelling adaptation…Worth stepping out for.” – Irish Independent
Aaron McCusker as Hugh O’Neill, Ireland
Denis Conway as Hugh O’Neill, Rome
Liadán Dunlea as Mabel (Bagenal) O’Neill
Martha Dunlea as Mary Bagenal
Peter Gowen as Peter Lombard, Rome
Aron Hegarty as Hugh O’Donnell
Chris McHallem as Harry Hoveden, Rome
Stephen O’Leary as Harry Hoveden, Ireland
Ray Scannell as Peter Lombard, Ireland
Written by Brian Friel
Directed by Des Kennedy
Set Designer Niall McKeever
Lighting Designer Sinéad McKenna
Costume Designer Catherine Fay
Composer and Sound Designer Mel Mercier
Movement Director Emily Terndrup
Associate DirectorÉadaoin Fox
Voice and Dialect Coach Danièle Lydon
Stage Manager Aoife Byrne
Senior Producer Naomi Daly
Production Manager Ian Brown
Line Producer Aoife Clarke
Assistant Stage Manager Ilona McCormick, Molly Foley, Mark Jackson
Sound Engineer Joe Cusack
Chief LX Patrick Lehane
Costume Supervisor Jenny Whyte
Costume Production Angela O’Donnell of YAWUW, Faye Clagu, Jingyi Zhang
Scenic Artist Hannah Lane
Hair and Make-Up Consultant Maeve Readman
Wardrobe Assistant Megan Grufferty
Recorded Music Cleek Schrey (fiddle), Henry Fraser (double bass), Deirdre Moynihan (voice)
Music Recording Engineer Donncha Moynihan
Set Construction Realtra Productions
Photographer (promo) Patricio Cassinoni
Photographer (production) Marcin Lewandowski
Videographer Patricio Cassinoni
Graphic Designer Coolgrey
Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, Erasmus Smith’s Professor of Modern History (1762) at Trinity College Dublin, will lead a post-show talk on Tuesday 22 April.
Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, MRIA, FBA, FTCD, FRHistS, is Erasmus Smith’s Professor of Modern History (1762) at Trinity College Dublin. She was a driving force behind the 1641 Depositions Project and the development of the Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute. She chaired the Irish Research Council (2015-21). In 2023, she received an Advanced ERC for VOICES, a project on the lived experiences of women in early modern Ireland. She is the author or editor of numerous articles and 14 books. Her latest Making Empire: Ireland, Imperialism and the Early Modern World (Oxford, 2023) is based on the 2021 Ford Lectures in Oxford and features the play, Making History. In 2023 she was awarded the Royal Irish Academy Gold Medal in the Humanities.
Running time TBC min | Interval
Age recommendation All
Trigger Warnings TBC
Post Show Talk