Details of this year's Dublin Theatre Festival have been revealed, with the festival's Artistic Director promising a bigger and more ambitious programme than ever.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment, Willie White said compared to previous year's the programme was "more ambitious" with "something for everyone" over the festival's 18-day run from September 29 to October 16.
"This year's festival is bigger than 2015, we're being more ambitious," White said. "On opening night we're on the three largest stages on the city, The Olympia, The Gaiety and The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, so we have a lot to offer and a lot of diversity in that offering."
Breaking Rainbows runs at Temple Bar Gallery & Studios
"We have opera with Don Giovanni, a really hilarious production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Camille O'Sullivan collaborating with an Australian singer/songwriter Paul Kelly."
. @DubTheatreFest's @williewhite says this year's festival will be bigger & better than ever https://t.co/bIWJiG9t49https://t.co/0xFnmJ0RG8
— RTÉ Entertainment (@RTE_Ents) July 26, 2016
With a total of 28 shows being staged, White says he hopes "there's something for everyone".
"The theatre festival audience is people who come year after year and every year there are people who come for the first time so I try to make sure that there's something in the programme to appeal to both," he said.
"As well as that, we have a strong family season for years with The Ark, so you can start coming to the Theatre Festival from as young as two and we'll never turn you away if you keep coming back!"
ZVIZDAL (Chernobyl - so far so close) is at the Samuel Beckett Theatre
The programme is packed with Irish and international productions, including "three shows from Nordic countries, one from Iceland, Norway and Sweden as well as a company coming from Spain with quite a provocative performance, as well as work from the UK and Belgium."
The Irish plays include a new production of Anton Chekov's The Seagull by Michael West and Annie Ryan, an adaptation of Swan Lake rooted in the midlands of Ireland, a new play by Carmel McGuinness called The Remains of Maisie Duggan, and Donegal, a musical play written by Frank McGuinness.
The Seagull by Anton Chekhov in a new version by Michael West and Annie Ryan
Also debuting at this year's Dublin Theatre Festival is Helen & I, a new play by young Tuam-born writer Meaghbh McHugh starring Red Rock's Cathy Belton and Rebecca O'Mara.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment, actress Belton praised the "extraordinary" script.
"It was one of those times where I started it and I couldn't stop," she said. "First and foremost it was a great story and you really care about these people and I was very excited about this unique new voice."
The actress went on to praise the "amazing" festival line-up, her only remorse being that she's "going to be on stage! It looks extraordinary, there's so many things I want to see, Willie has done an amazing job."
. @CathyBelton talks about her role in @DruidTheatre's production of Helen & I by new writer @MeadhbhGalway. #DTF16https://t.co/XCKaBD5d4b
— RTÉ Entertainment (@RTE_Ents) July 26, 2016
For a full list of this year's festival line-up visit www.dublintheatrefestival.com
