Go inside rehearsals for the revival of Brian Friel's Olivier-winning play Dancing at Lughnasa at London's National Theatre. Performances will begin April 6 in the Olivier Theatre where it will open April 18. The run is set through May 27.
Starring in the cast are Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls), Ardal O’Hanlon (Father Ted), Alison Oliver (Conversations with Friends), and Louisa Harland (Derry Girls) alongside Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Bláithín Mac Gabhann, Justine Mitchell, Tom Riley, Sean Donegan, Lauren Farrell, George Turner, and Caitríona Williams.
It's 1936, and harvest time has come in Ballybeg, a village in the Ireland's northwestern county, Donegal. Five sisters living in poverty are struggling to raise seven-year-old Michael while also caring for their Uncle Jack. As they fight and love, yearn and survive, the family's world arrives on the brink of change during the Festival of Lughnasa where pagan and Christian traditions convene.
Rourke said in a statement, “It was on the South Bank that the seed of the play was planted with Friel and it was always his intention that this play be produced by the NT.
The production will feature set and costume design by Robert Jones, lighting design by Mark Henderson, choreography by Wayne McGregor, compositions by Hannah Peel, sound design by Emma Laxton, and video design by Douglas O’Connell. Casting is by Alastair Coomer.
Dancing at Lughnasa made its Broadway premiere in 1991 at the Plymouth Theatre where it began previews October 11 and opened October 24. It closed a year later on October 25 and was recognized with eight Tony nominations. Of those, it won the awards for Best Play, Best Direction of a Play, and Best Featured Actress in a Play for Bríd Brennan's performance.
Visit NationalTheatre.org.uk.
Go inside the rehearsal room with the gallery below.