Award-winning drama Blackbird for Arts Centre
Decadent Theatre Company continues to forge a theatrical path to venues around Ireland with a national tour of David Harrower’s award-winning drama, Blackbird. Directed by Andrew Flynn, it comes to Nenagh Arts Centre on Friday and Saturday, May 20 and 21, as part of an extensive tour running from April to June 2022.
Blackbird was an adrenaline jolt to critics and audiences alike when it premiered at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival. It has since received productions around the world including in the West End where it won the 2007 Olivier Award for Best New Play and on Broadway starring Jeff Daniels and Michelle Williams.
Blackbird is a heart-stopping confrontation between two people forever bound by a shared experience that torments them both. This blistering two-hander boils theatre down to its most essential elements.
After years in prison and subsequent hardships, Ray has a new identity and has made a new life for himself, thinking that he cannot be found. Una has thought of nothing else. Upon seeing a photo of Ray in a magazine, she has arrived unannounced at his office.
Guilt, rage, and raw emotions run high as they recollect the illegal relationship they had 15 years ago, when she was 12 and he was 40. Moral judgment is suspended until the end in a play that never shies away from the shattering consequences of the past. Questions far outnumber answers in this dark drama.
Decadent has commissioned theatre educator Dani Gill to curate an outreach programme that will offer context for this complex and challenging work. It will be available for audiences to view online before attending Blackbird.
Andrew Flynn, Artistic Director of Decadent Theatre Company tackled Blackbird as part of the 2009 Galway International Arts Festival. The Irish Theatre Magazine said: “Blackbird is a stunning play, dense with philosophical and ethical issues about human sexuality.”
This new production stars Declan Conlon as Ray and Maeve Fitzgerald as Una.
Decadent Theatre Company is firmly established as a leading force in Irish theatre and touring is in Decadent’s DNA. In recent years Decadent has brought 24 live theatre shows to 34 venues of all sizes across Ire-land.
Andrew Flynn is one of the most successful and sought-after directors at work today. Recent productions include Kevin Barry’s There Are Little Kingdoms as part of the 2021 Galway International Arts Festival and The Lonesome West by Martin McDonagh for Gaiety Productions.
Blackbird’s national tour is supported by the Arts Council’s Touring and Dissemination of Work and Capacity Building Schemes.
Blackbird contains strong language and adult content. The sexual abuse of a minor is discussed. It is suitable for ages 16+. Running time is 80 minutes with no interval.
TICKET DETAILS
Tickets for Blackbird are priced at €18/€15 and are available at the Nenagh Arts Centre Box Office, 067 34400 and website, nenagharts.com.