“Saint Correlliolanus, come on, and deliver us from utther desthruction!”
In spring 2025, Druid are hitting the road once more for an 11-venue national tour of Three Short Comedies by Seán O’Casey.
Following their record-breaking 2024 tour of O’Casey’s The Shadow of a Gunman, Druid return to The Everyman in Cork with these classic rip-roaring one-act plays by one of Ireland’s greatest playwrights.
Set in a post office, A Pound on Demand (1939) is the tale of Jerry and Sammy, who badly need a quick injection of cash to continue their night on the town.
In Bedtime Story (1951), poor John Jo Mulligan learns the hard way that inviting members of the opposite sex to Miss Mossie’s lodging house comes with serious consequences.
All hell breaks loose in The End of the Beginning (1937) when Darry Berrill and his wife Lizzie agree to swap their household roles – and that’s before Darry’s clumsy friend Barry arrives.
These short tales of misadventure will be directed by Garry Hynes and performed by Druid ensemble members Marie Mullen, Rory Nolan and Marty Rea, alongside Venetia Bowe, Caitríona Ennis and Liam Heslin.
Since 1975, Druid have been criss-crossing the country to bring world-class theatre to audiences in their own communities. This new national tour marks the beginning of their 50th anniversary programme in 2025.
★★★★ “Wildly entertaining” – The Irish Times
★★★★ “delivered with music hall flair…endlessly inventive…brilliant comic timing” – The Guardian
★★★★ “serious slapstick with lashings of laughter…a masterclass in precision” – The Arts Review
★★★★ “remarkable slapstick” – Feeling Good
“three Seán O’Casey crackers…giggle-inducing” – Sunday Independent
“laugh-out loud moments” – Connacht Tribune
Written by Seán O’Casey
Directed by Garry Hynes
Set and Costume Designer Francis O’Connor
Lighting Designer James F. Ingalls
Sound Designer Gregory Clarke
Music Conor Linehan
Hair and Make-Up Gráinne Coughlan
Associate Costume Designer Clíodhna Hallissey
Performed by Venetia Bowe, Caitríona Ennis, Liam Heslin, Marie Mullen, Rory Nolan and Marty Rea
Ger FitzGibbon, former Head of Drama and Theatre Studies in UCC and a freelance writer and director, will lead a post-show talk on the night.
Ger FitzGibbon is former Head of Drama and Theatre Studies in UCC. He now works as a freelance writer and director. Whether as dramaturg, director, playwright or board member, he has worked with a wide range of Cork companies over the years, including Theatre Makers, The Everyman, Gaitkrash, BrokenCrow, Corcadorca, Cork Theatre Company and Graffiti Theatre Company. His directorial work includes works by Seán O’Casey, Brian Friel, Tim Crouch, Samuel Beckett, Frank McGuinness, Patrick Kavanagh, Howard Barker, Bertolt Brecht, Anton Chekhov, Martin Crimp, W.S. Gilbert, James Saunders, Charles Marowitz and others.
His professionally produced plays include Ghostlight, The Rock Station, The Bed, Tenebrae, Johnno’s Wars, The Hairdresser’s Calendar, The Four-Faced Liar, as well as adaptations and versions based on Sheridan, Chekhov and the stories of Eamon Kelly. He recently published his first novel, Songs for a Burning City. The Four-Faced Liar, a Play for Voices, was originally developed for The Everyman and is due to be produced by RTÉ Radio Drama in spring 2025. He has recently been working with Theatre Makers Limited in developing a satirical theatre piece based on Táin Bó Cuailigne and co-authoring The Sorry Miscellany with Ronan FitzGibbon for BrokenCrow.
Ticket €39 | €36 | €31 | Student €11
Running time 140 min | 2 Intervals
Age recommendation 10+
Trigger Warnings none
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ISL interpreted performance