IMRAM to Present THE BRECHT PROJECT: SONGS FROM THE DARK TIMES at Smock Alley Theatre

On Wednesday, 24 May International Literature Festival Dublin in Association with IMRAM Irish Language Literature Festival, will present The Brecht Project: Songs From The Dark Times at the renowned Smock Alley Theatre.

Songs From The Dark Times is being conceived and directed by American theatre and opera director, Eric Fraad, with music direction by the celebrated Irish singer, Caitríona O'Leary. The Irish language production imaginatively adapts monologues, scenes and poems written by the German poet/playwright Bertolt Brecht, and songs - and other musical works - written by Brecht and the composers Kurt Weill and Hanns Eisler with the intention of drawing comparisons between the fascist regimes that emerged in the 1930s and 1940s, and the rise of right wing authoritarian governments today.

As the West's greatest politically-focused playwright and poet of the twentieth century, Brecht's works are hauntingly apposite today both in their incisive and humorous depiction of the impotence, immorality and declining plight of the common man and their call to political awareness and action. In revolutionary works such as The Threepenny Opera, The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny and Das Berliner Requiem, Brecht and Weill reimagined the genres of the musical, opera and oratorio, re-invigorating them with political and social meaning and a plethora of formal innovations. The same is the case for Brecht's remarkable oeuvre of poetry and works for the theatre.

Songs From The Dark Times celebrates these inspired literary and musical creations in compelling new Irish language translations and presents them in a context that demonstrates their relevance and impact for contemporary audiences.

Artistic/Production Team

Stage Direction: Eric Fraad

Music Direction: Caitríona O'Leary

Choreography: Justine Doswell,

Set & Lighting Design: Kevin McFadden

Costume Design: Monica Ennis

Projection Design: Margaret Lonergan

Irish Translations: Gabriel Rosenstock, Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh

Producer: Liam Carson

Performers

Singer: Caitríona O'Leary

Actors: TBA

Dancers: Justine Doswell, Clodagh Farrell, Sarah Carey, Roisin Kearney

Keyboards: Josh Johnston

Saxophones, Percussion: Nick Roth

Clarinets: Deirdre O'Leary

IF YOU GO:

Date: Wednesday, 24 May
Time: 8:00PM

Venue:
Smock Alley Theatre 1662
6-7 Exchange Street Lower
Temple Bar
Dublin 8, Ireland

Price: €10 / €8

Founded in 1998, is Ireland's premier literary event and gathers the finest writers in the world to debate, provoke, delight and enthrall. Described by the press as 'boasting a stunning array of top international literary talent' and 'the country's most successful and easily the best annual literary event'.

Founded in 2004, The Irish Language Literature Festival takes its audiences on a magical journey that reveals the depth and diversity of modern literature in Irish, through eclectic and imaginative event programming that fuses poetry, prose and music.

 

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