THEATRE
60. CLASS THE ABBEY January 24–February 3
This was a dark horse that emerged quietly from the Theatre Festival about the complicated relationship between a husband, his wife and the teacher who has reservations about their son that leads to nervous moments and uncomfortable comedy.
61. SIVE GAIETY January 26-March 3
A new Druid production of John B Keane’s 1959 play about exploitation and greed involving a plan to marry off a young girl to an old farmer for a promise of land, and an escape from poverty.
62. LOOK BACK IN ANGER THE GATE February 1-March 24
John Osborne’s play about class, sex and politics had an explosive effect on English theatre when it was first produced in 1956. The writers of the time had a tough job continuing in their comfortable ways after it. It will be interesting to see if it stands up as a critique of modern life.
63. HAUGHEY/GREGORY THE ABBEY February 8-10
Written by Colin Murphy, who previously brought us Guaranteed and Bailed Out about the bankers, is a new script-in-hand presentation about the notorious deal between Charles Haughey and Tony Gregory in the Eighties.
64. THE UNMANAGEABLE SISTERS THE ABBEY February 26- April 7
Deirdre Kinahan’s new version of the comedy Les Belles Souers. It’s Ballymun, 1973, and Ger has won a million Green Shield stamps. When friends come to celebrate, the lives of 15 women collide.
65. HEDDA GABLER GAIETY March 6-10
Ibsen’s tragic masterpiece in a new version by Patrick Marber, presented by the UK’s National Theatre. Hedda Gabler, just returned from her honeymoon, already feels trapped with a husband who can’t appreciate her.
66. ART GRAND OPERA HOUSE BELFAST March 12-17
The multi-award winning comedy by Yasmina Reza translated by Christopher Hampton. With Nigel Havers, Stephen Tompkinson and Denis Lawson. A man buys an apparently white canvas with a few white lines. As opinions among his friends get stronger, they are all forced to face questions about the nature of art and friendship. Also runs at the Gaiety Dublin from March 19-24.
67. MATILDA THE MUSICAL BORD GÁIS ENERGY THEATRE April 4-28
Written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, this delightful show based on the Roald Dahl novel is perfect for a family trip to the theatre.
68. ASSASSINS THE GATE April 12-June 9
Stephen Sondheim’s musical is a black comedy about nine people, from John Wilkes Booth to John Hinkley, who assassinated or attempted to assassinate US presidents. He incorporates music styles inspired by the different historical periods.
69. THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS GAIETY April 24-May 5
This is Seán Holmes’s high-energy, irreverent Abbey Theatre/Lyric Hammersmith production of the O’Casey play, first seen at the Abbey in 2016. Holmes has made his name as somebody who’s not afraid to stir controversy.
70. TITANIC, THE MUSICAL GRAND OPERA HOUSE BELFAST April 24-28
Direct from London, based on the illfated ship, and the dreams and aspirations of passengers who were looking forward to a new life. The show has already won Emmy, Tony and Olivier awards.
71. THE KITE RUNNER GAIETY June 4-9
Based on Khaled Hosseini’s novel, spanning cultures and continents about two childhood friends in Afghanistan and an incident that will change their lives forever. At the Opera House, Belfast from June 18-23.
72. ASKING FOR IT EVERYMAN, CORK June 11-23
The world premiere stage adaptation of Louise O’Neill’s novel about a young woman whose life is changed forever by a horrific act of violence is an indictment of society’s treatment of women. In conjunction with the Abbey Theatre and Cork Midsummer Festival. Also at the Abbey from November 7-14.
73. THE SNAPPER THE GATE July 14-September 1
Roddy Doyle’s second instalment of his Barrytown trilogy is a wickedly funny account of family life and pregnancy in 1980s northside Dublin. A far cry from the Gate’s staple productions of Noël Coward and Oscar Wilde.
74. FRNKSTN THE ABBEY August 17-September 1
Michael West’s modern adaptation presents Dr Frankenstein as a molecular biologist creating human life from his own DNA, with disastrous results.