This Spring, Tinderbox Theatre Company is proud to see the return of an audience favourite for an intimate tour at select venues across Northern Ireland.
The Virgin Father, written by award-winning playwright Jimmy McAleavey, directed by Michael Duke, starring Stewart Ennis with stage design from Ciaran Bagnall tells a love story about the temptation to believe.
The intense 70 minute monologue gives audiences a glimpse into the life of Joe (played by Ennis) – a normal man who fell in love with and married Mary, the quiet girl in the village who was carrying someone else’s child. Failing to deal with his wife’s delusions about the pregnancy and keeping his son from joining a cult, Joe finds himself being hunted down after the disappearance of his wife.
Written by award-winning playwright Jimmy McAleavey (Monsters, Dinosaurs, Ghosts; Unhome and The Sign of The Whale) – this beautiful yet challenging piece of early work from McAleavey was first shown by Tinderbox in 2009 and has remained an audience and industry favourite ever since. Winner of the Stewart Parker Major Bursary for The Sign of the Whale in 2010, McAleavey’s theatre work has been performed on some of Ireland’s most recognised stages including the Lyric and MAC theatres in Belfast and at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre. Recently, the talented playwright was awarded £15,000 by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for his impressive contribution to the arts in the region. Previous recipients of this accolade include playwrights Owen McCafferty, Damian Gorman and Carlo Gebler.
Speaking about the tour, Jimmy McAleavey commented:
“I’m delighted The Virgin Father is being remounted at Easter 2016. It’s a play about martyrdom, political conflict and faith – in political ideas as well as religion – so it chimes with the centenary of the Easter Rising. Of course, it’s no coincidence that those particular Irish rebels chose Easter to mount their insurrection.’
Hanna Slättne, Dramaturg at Tinderbox, said:
“The Virgin Father was and remains one of my favourite Tinderbox productions – beautifully written, cleverly directed, perfectly acted and with flawless stage design. The subtle themes of parenthood, faith, childhood rebellion, identity and state oppression are as relevant in 2016 as they were when I first read the script in 2008 and then helped develop it with Jimmy for stage in 2009. This remount of the Virgin Father will give audiences a rare opportunity to experience one of Northern Ireland’s modern classics.”
Tour Dates & Venue Locations
15 March, 8pm
Cushendall Golf Club
£8
028 9043 9313 / Tickets on the door
18 March, 8pm
Down Arts Centre
£12
028 4461 0747 / downartscentre.com
19 March, 8pm
The Playhouse, Derry
£10 / £8
028 71 268027 / derryplayhouse.co.uk
29 March – 2 April, 8pm (3pm Sat matinee)
Lyric Theatre Belfast
£12-£15 / £10
028 9038 1081 / lyrictheatre.co.uk