“Tribes” seen at The Gate Theatre, Dublin

The Gate Theatre production of; “Tribes” seen at The Gate Theatre, Dublin. Part of the 2017 Dublin Theatre Festival

On 11^th October last I had a very edgy, challenging, engaging and informative theatre experience at the Irish Premier of Nina Raine’s play “Tribes” at The Gate Theatre, Dublin

Scenographer Conor Murphy’s performance space for the play is set in a dark, ultra-stark, austere modernist dining room. Above the stage there are three borders the width of the performance area. Each border consist of five synchronised flat screen televisions in line so as to provide a horizontal linear image the width of the performance space. They were to good dramatic effect, augmenting the oscillating emotional moods of the performance and denoting time of day or night. They also were used to good effect in showing thoughts, translating sign language, showing memory flash-backs, the symbolic silence, isolation of an underwater sequence and provided for a change in location by lowering the downstage border of screens to near stage level.

Conor Murphy uses his control of costume colour and monochromatic greys to good effect in expressing emotion, happiness, dysfunction, hearing v deafness,

Photo Curtsey of The Gate Theatre

The dramatic and subtle lighting changes designed by Mimi Jordan Sherin moves in tandem with the mood changes of characters and the tensions of the moments. Characters are isolated, sometimes apparently freeze framed and at other moments animated into action by a lighting change.

Set and Costumes designed by scenographer Conor Murphy. The production is directed by Oonagh Murphy, Lighting Design by Mimi Jordan Sherin, Sound Design Ivan Birthistle, Hair and Make-up Stacey Regan, Wardrobe Assistant and Dresser Corinna Govan, Video Designer Conan McIvor

Nina Raine:                 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Raine

                                    http://www.unitedagents.co.uk/nina-raine

Oonagh Murphy:         https://www.oonaghmurphytheatre.com/

                                    https://ie.linkedin.com/in/oonaghmurphy

                                                           

Conor Murphy:            http://www.conormurphy.com/

                                    http://stageandscreendesignireland.ie/designers/conor-murphy/

Mimi Jordan Sherin:    http://www.bolshoi.ru/en/persons/people/3031/

                                    https://www.deutscheoperberlin.de/en_EN/ensemble/137148

                                    http://www.roh.org.uk/people/mimi-jordan-sherin

Stacey Regan:            https://www.facebook.com/staceyeganmua/

Ivan Birthistle:             http://stageandscreendesignireland.ie/designers/ivan-birthistle/                                               http://archive.dublintheatrefestival.com/artists/display.asp? m=&artistID=706

Conan McIvor:            https://www.conanmcivor.com/

                                    http://stageandscreendesignireland.ie/designers/conan-mcivor/

Corinna Govan:           https://www.facebook.com/CorinnagCostume/

                                    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7244911/

 Gate Theatre:             http://www.gatetheatre.ie/

Dublin Theatre Festival:https://www.dublintheatrefestival.com/Online/default.asp

“On Blueberry Hill” at The Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin

Fishamble The New Play Company’s production of; “On Blueberry Hill” at The Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin

On 5^th October last I had a very entertaining, engaging and uplifting theatre experience at Fishamble The New Play Company’s production of “On Blueberry Hill” at The Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire in County Dublin

This is a very entertaining, thought provoking and uplifting Production of Sebastian Barry’s new play ‘On Blueberry Hill’ The pitiful and desperate  characters of mutually dependent Christy and PJ are superbly performed by Nial Buggy and David Ganly. The near minimal stage setting of isolated prison cell bunk beds is designed by Scenographer Sabine Dargent.

Photo curtsey Fishamble, 

The tight lighting designed by Mark Galione isolates the characters and performance space in the initial phases of the production. As the story reveals itself and the relationship between the characters unfolds, the lighting changes to include both characters simultaneously and gives poignancy to the subliminal background festooned with unanswered letters. This lighting change moves in tandem with the change in tempo of performance culminating in the closing, unbounded scene of unbridled forgiveness, joy and celebration of unfettered love of the human spirit. Thus undermining the earlier bleak murderous intimacy, the isolation and the claustrophobia of a two souls trapped in a prison cell.  

Set designed by scenographer Sabine Dargent. The production is directed by Jim Culleton, Set and Costumes Designed by Sabine Dargent, Lighting Design by Mark Galione, Sound Design Denis Clohessy,

Jim Culleton:               http://www.lisarichards.ie/directors/jim-culleton- director#.WdoWglu3zDA

          

Sabine Dargent:          http://www.sabinedargent.com/

                                    http://stageandscreendesignireland.ie/designers/sabine-dargent/

  

Mark Galione:              http://markgalione.ie/

                                    http://stageandscreendesignireland.ie/designers/mark-galione/

Denis Clohessy:          https://www.denisclohessy.com/

Fishamble Theatre:     http://fishamble.com/

Pavilion Theatre:         http://www.paviliontheatre.ie/

  

Sebastian Barry:         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastian_Barry

Woyzeck in Winter at The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin Theatre Festival 2017

Landmark Productions and Galway International Arts Festival production of Woyzeck in Winter at The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin Theatre Festival 2017

On Wednesday 4^th of October last I saw Landmark Productions and Galway International Arts Festival’s production of Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck in Winter at The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin. The massive, teetering set composed of dark, brooding Piano carcases is designed by Scenographer Jamie Vartan. The set references Schubert’s song cycle Die Winterreise which Schubert was still working on in 1827 when he died aged 31. Jamie Vartan’s stage setting provides a menacing performance space with semi concealed stairways, doors and performance areas. Influenced by the poetical work Winterrise by poet Wilhelm Müller, the poetic, nihilist Woyzeck in Winter is set or around 1833-37 Austria.

This dark, despairing and robustly performed production is not for the faint hearted, do not expect to whistle a production tune on your way home. Informed by the accounts of the French Revolution and of women, wives, lovers’ brutally murdered by nihilistic men, Büchner struggles to contextualise and express this human condition through his, arguably unfinished work.

The overall performance space and smaller ensconced spaces presents an apt and visually satisfying set design. The scenographer Jamie Vartan. I collaboration with Lighting Designer, Paul Keogan, provide the performers and audience with a collaboratively menacing environment in which to embrace the ambience and menace generated by this dark production.

The Costumes designed by Designer Joan O’Cleary and Supervised by Orla Long provide the actors with convincing evocative characters of a time and place long past yet appallingly relevant to the contemporary world. All in all it is an appealing design solution, a setting that provides a menacing and versatile performance space for the actors and the characters they portray.

The production was developed and directed by Conall Morrison, Scenography (Set Design) by Jamie Vartan, Costumes Designed by Joan O’Cleary, Lighting Design by Paul Keogan (based on original design by Ben Ormerod), Sound Design Mike Nestor

The €5 programme has an introductory piece by Festival Artistic Director and CEO Willie White and a thoroughly researched informative and provocative piece by author Belinda McKeon on writer Georg Büchner, Composer Schubert and Poet Wilhelm Müller. The programme also includes cv synopses of the production team, cast and crew,

Conall Morrison:         http://www.lisarichards.ie/directors/conall-morrison-  director#.WdeMrVu3zDA

                                    http://www.irishplayography.com/person.aspx?personid=31783

           

Jamie Vartan:              http://www.jamievartan.com/

                                    http://stageandscreendesignireland.ie/designers/jamie-vartan/

Joan O’Cleary:            http://www.lisarichards.ie/designers/joan-ocleary-designer#.WdeNhlu3zDA

                                    http://stageandscreendesignireland.ie/designers/joan-oclery/

Orla Long:                   http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2706666/

                                    http://stageandscreendesignireland.ie/designers/sarah-jane-shiels/

Paul Keogan:              http://www.paulkeogan.com/

                                    http://stageandscreendesignireland.ie/designers/paul-keogan/

Ben Ormorod:             http://www.benormerod.com/

                                    http://www.irishplayography.com/person.aspx?personid=33060

Conor Linehan:           http://www.lisarichards.ie/designers/conor-linehan-  composer#.WdeYXVu3zDA

                                    http://www.riam.ie/conor-linehan/

  

Belinda McKeon:         http://belindamckeon.com/

                                    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belinda_McKeon

Mike Nestor:                http://michaelnestor.net/

Landmark

Productions:               http://www.landmarkproductions.ie/

Galway International Arts Festival: http://www.giaf.ie/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_L2cz6Lc1gIV9ArTCh0l3giSEAAYASAAEgIMivD_BwE

Gaiety Theatre:           http://www.gatetheatre.ie/?gclid=CO-f65Gj3NYCFc2T7Qod-0kCyQ

Dublin Theatre

Festival:                       https://dublintheatrefestival.com/Online/default.asp

Nora at The Project Art’s Centre Theatre, Dublin Theatre Festival 2017

The Corn Exchange’s Nora at The Project Art’s Centre Theatre, Dublin Theatre Festival 2017

On Wednesday 27^th September last I had the good fortune to meet Scenographer Paul O’Mahony before a preview of The Corn Exchange production of Nora. He was (as can be expected) a bit anxious but content about the set he had designed for this full on, edgy and gripping new work by author Belinda McKeon. The story being set in 2015 allows Paul O’Mahony’s imaginative, clean edged, minimalist and opulent set to be slightly futuristic

This is a feisty, robustly performed production. Inspired by Henric Ibsen’s “A Dolls House” , author Belinda McKeon in collaboration with Annie Ryan and directed by Eoghan Carrick Nora is a very entertaining, edgy, fresh and thought provoking Production.  The performance space is presented in an apt and visually satisfying set designed by scenographer Paul O’Mahony. I collaboration with Lighting Designer, Sara Jane Shiels, O’Mahony provides the performers and indeed the audience with an ambient  appropriate and appealing design solution, a setting that provides a focused and defined performance space for the actors and the characters they portray.

The production was directed by Eoghan Carrick, Scenography (Set Design) by Paul O’Mahony, Costumes Designed by Katie Crowley, Lighting Design by Sara Jane Shiels, Sound Design Philip Stewart

The free programme gave the usual list of cast and crew,

Eoghan Carrick:          https://www.eoghancarrick.com/about

           

Paul O’Mahony:          https://www.paulomahonysetdesign.com/

                                    http://stageandscreendesignireland.ie/designers/paul-omahony/

 

Katie Crowley:            https://katiecrowleycostume.carbonmade.com/

                                    http://stageandscreendesignireland.ie/designers/katie-crowley/

 

Sarah Jane Shiels:     http://sarahjaneshiels.com/

                                    http://stageandscreendesignireland.ie/designers/sarah-jane-shiels/

Philip Stewart:             http://stageandscreendesignireland.ie/designers/philip-stewart/

Belinda McKeon:         http://belindamckeon.com/

                                    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belinda_McKeon

Annie Ryan                 http://www.cornexchange.ie/people/annie-ryan

                                    http://www.irishplayography.com/person.aspx?personid=30468

The Corn Exchange:  http://www.cornexchange.ie/

 

Project Arts Centre:    http://projectartscentre.ie/

Dublin Theatre Festival:          https://dublintheatrefestival.com/Online/default.asp