The Abbey Theatre to Stage World Premiere of SHIBBOLETH

The Abbey Theatre is delighted to present the world premiere of Shibboleth by Stacey Gregg on Wednesday 7 October on the Peacock stage, as part of Dublin Theatre Festival. It is directed by Hamish Pirie from London's Royal Court.

Speaking about the production, Fiach Mac Conghail, Director, Abbey Theatre said:

"Stacey Gregg is one of Ireland's most exciting and vital young playwrights. I'm proud to produce her second play at the Abbey Theatre. When she participated in our Theatre of War Symposium in January 2015, Stacey spoke passionately about the peace walls that still separate communities across Belfast. This is an important play politically and culturally for the Abbey Theatre to do. It not only alerts us to the challenges of maintaining peace in Northern Ireland but also encourages cross community integration."

Shibboleth tells the story of a group of construction workers in Belfast who are building an extension to the Peace wall to separate Them-ens from Us-ens. It is an energetic and unsentimental picture of working-class Belfast.

As a politically savvy and engaged writer, Stacey Gregg draws our attention to the ongoing social and economic segregation of communities in Northern Ireland, despite apparent progress in the region since the 1998 peace process.

Shibboleth is Stacey's third commission to be staged by the Abbey Theatre, and was co-commissioned by the Abbey Theatre and the Goethe-Institut. Her play Perve premiered in 2011, and her short play When Cows Go Boom, featured in the 20:LOVE season in 2008, as part of the Abbey Theatre's short play commission series.

The Abbey Theatre is committed to commissioning and producing new plays from Northern Irish writers. Jimmy McAleavey's Monsters, Dinosaurs, Ghosts (2015) and Owen McCafferty's Quietly (2012), which both premiered on the Peacock stage, give us fascinating insights into contemporary life in Northern Ireland. In Shibboleth, Stacey Gregg explores the reality of life in Belfast from the perspective of a younger generation of writers.

The Abbey Theatre acknowledges the support of The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon

Cast

Piotr Baumann - Yuri

Rhys Dunlop - Corey

Charlie Farrell - Darren

Sophie Harkness - Agnieszka

Vincent Higgins - Stuarty

Andy Kelleher - Alan

Conor MacNeill - Mo

Louise Mathews - Councillor

Jake O'Loughlin - Darren

Kerri Quinn - Ruby

Cara Robinson - The Wall

Creatives

Stacey Gregg - Writer

Hamish Pirie - Director

Paul Keogan - Set and Lighting Designer

Saileóg O'Halloran - Costume Designer

James Fortune - Composer and Musical Director

Derek Conaghy - Sound Designer

Fleur Darkin - Movement Director

Eoghan Carrick - Assistant Director

Shibboleth by Stacey Gregg on the Peacock stage

Opens: Wednesday 7 October 2015

Previews: Fri 2 - Tues 6 October (including Monday)

Run: Fri 2 - Sat 31 October

Times: 8.00 pm (Tues - Sat); 2.30 pm Sat matinees

Booking

Tel: (01) 878 7222 / www.abbeytheatre.ie

Tickets: €13 - €20 / Concessions €13 - €17

Assisted performances for Shibboleth

Sign Language Interpreted Performance: Thursday 15 October at 8.00 pm

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