The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, presents:
The Weir
Written by Conor McPherson &Â Directed by Amanda Gaughan
Performances Run: 15 January – 6 February 2016
“There’s no dark like a winter night in the country. And there was a wind like this one, howling and whistling in off the sea. It was this type of night now. Am I setting the scene for you?â€
You are invited to an evening at Brendan’s Bar in rural Ireland, a cosy hostelry for a dark night. So pull up a bar stool, grab a pint of your usual, warm yourself by the fire and hear the local fellas spin their tall tales. It’s all just good craic as the lads try to outdo each other with their ghost stories, but then newcomer Valerie shares a haunting tale of her own…
Chosen as one of the Hundred Plays of the Century in a National Theatre poll, The Weir has won a host of playwriting awards including the Evening Standard Award, George Devine Award, Critics Circle Award and Laurence Olivier Award. Conor McPherson’s brilliantly observed and emotionally searing tale is a true gem of contemporary theatre.
‘Rich vivid and often wonderfully funny…a modern classic.’ The Telegraph
‘My play of the decade…a modern masterpiece.’ The Express
The show is directed by Lyceum Associate Artist Amanda Gaughan (Hedda Gabler,Hidden)who has assembled a stellar cast of accomplished Irish actors from both stage and screen. The cast are Brian Gleeson as Brendan, Frank McKusker as Finbar, Gary Lydon as Jack, Darragh Kelly as Jim and Lucianne McEvoy as Valerie.
The creative team are designer Francis O’Connor, lighting designer Simon Wilkinson and composer and sound designer Michael John McCarthy.
Director Amanda Gaughan says: “It’s just people talking,” said Conor McPherson of his 1997 play, ‘The Weir’; which has been hailed as a modern-day classic and I am delighted to be directing this for our 50th anniversary year. Set in a rural Irish pub; the men meet for their usual pint together but this night is different when a stranger, Valerie comes amongst them and then, the real stories begin…
Storytelling is at the core of this funny yet emotionally visceral and haunting play. Through Irish myths and ghost stories, ‘The Weir’ examines how the ghosts of our past – both personal and universal – can affect the fragility of our own present and asks if or how we can move forward from personal tragedy.”
PERFORMANCES
15 January – 6 February 2016
Evenings, 7.30pm & Matinees, 2pm
TICKETS
£13- £29.50
For tickets phone 0131 248 4848 or book online at www.lyceum.org.uk
ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES
Touch Tours for visually impaired: Thursday 28th January, 6.15pm & Saturday 30th January, 12.45pm
Audio-described Performances: Thursday 28th January, 7.30pm & Saturday 30th January, 2pm
BSL Interpreted Performance: Wednesday 3rd February, 7.30pm
Captioned Performance: Saturday 6 February, 2pm