Dates: | Tue 4—Sat 8 Mar 2025 |
---|---|
Times: | 14.30 | 19.30 |
Tickets: | £15 - £35 |
Space: | Main Stage |
Suitable for: 10+
Running time: Act 1: 25 mins 12-15 minute interval Act 2: 40 mins 12-15 minute interval Act 3: 35 mins
Directed by: Garry Hynes
Written by: Seán O’Casey
This production contains a content warning find out
Druid return to the Lyric Theatre with these classic rip-roaring one-act plays by one of Ireland’s greatest playwrights, following their sold-out run of DruidO’Casey in 2023.
'Saint Correlliolanus, come on, and deliver us from utther desthruction!'
In spring 2025, Druid are hitting the road once more for an 11-venue national tour of Three Short Comedies by Seán O'Casey.
Set in a post office, A Pound on Demand (1939) is the tale of Jerry and Sammy who badly need a quick injection of cash to continue their night on the town.
In Bedtime Story (1951), poor John Jo Mulligan learns the hard way that inviting members of the opposite sex to Miss Mossie's lodging house comes with serious consequences.
All hell breaks loose in The End of the Beginning (1937) when Darry Berrill and his wife Lizzie agree to swap their household roles - and that's before Darry's clumsy friend Barry arrives.
Druid return to the Lyric Theatre with these classic rip-roaring one-act plays by one of Ireland’s greatest playwrights, following their sold-out run of DruidO’Casey in 2023.
These short tales of misadventure will be directed by Garry Hynes and performed by Druid ensemble members Marie Mullen, Rory Nolan and Marty Rea, alongside Venetia Bowe, Caitríona Ennis and Liam Heslin.
Since 1975, Druid have been criss-crossing the country to bring world-class theatre to audiences in their own communities. This new national tour marks the beginning of their 50th anniversary programme in 2025.
Founded in 1975, Druid is a touring theatre company, anchored in the West of Ireland and looking to the world. In 2025, Druid celebrates its 50th anniversary. Druid passionately believes that audiences have the right to see first class professional theatre in their own communities. The company has toured the length and breadth of Ireland as well as touring internationally to the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Hong Kong.
Production highlights include: The Beauty Queen of Leenane (1996), in a co-production with The Royal Court Theatre, which went on to win four Tony Awards, including Best Director for Garry Hynes, the first woman to win an award for directing in the history of the Tony Awards; The Leenane Trilogy (1997), also with The Royal Court Theatre; DruidSynge (2005) – all six John Millington Synge plays in a single day; DruidMurphy – Plays by Tom Murphy (2011 & 2012), a trilogy of Conversations on a Homecoming, A Whistle in the Dark and Famine; DruidShakespeare: Richard II, Henry IV (Pts. 1&2), Henry V in a new adaptation by Mark O’Rowe (2015) and DruidShakespeare: Richard III (2018); Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett which opened at Galway International Arts Festival in 2016 and by the end of 2018 had toured Ireland twice, played at the Abbey Theatre, Edinburgh International Festival and several US cities. In 2020, in a first for Irish theatre, Druid’s production of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, in a version by Tom Murphy, was broadcast live from Galway to 34 cinemas in Ireland and the UK.
Druid is a writer’s theatre, re-imagining classics and premiering new work annually, while exploring ambitious projects such as DruidGregory, a production of five of Lady Gregory’s one-act plays in 2020, and Thomas Kilroy’s The Seagull (after Chekhov) in 2021 – both of which were performed outdoors in Coole Park, County Galway. During 2020 and 2021, the company introduced Druid at Home, a new way of connecting with its audiences in Ireland and around the world, through presenting work on the digital stage. Notable successes include the company’s first live stream production, the world premiere of Once Upon a Bridge by Sonya Kelly. Since March 2020, Druid has reached audiences in 130 countries with our ticketed and free-to-view Druid at Home productions.
The company continues to nurture playwrights and the next generation of theatre makers through its new writing and other artists support programmes. At the heart of its artistic programme is the Druid Ensemble who work closely with the Artistic Director and the Druid team to deliver a varied and ambitious body of work.
‘one of the world’s great acting ensembles’ – The Guardian
‘a world-class company rooted in the cultural fabric of Galway’ – The Irish Times
‘Ireland’s most prestigious theatre company’ – Irish Independent
‘the most successful Irish theatrical export ever’ – Irish Independent
‘any New York visit by the Druid Theater Company of Galway is an event not to be missed’ – The New York Times
Since it was founded in 1975, Druid has won numerous national and international awards including: Tony Awards (Broadway), Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards, a Sunday Independent Theatre Award, UK Theatre Awards, Fringe First Awards (Edinburgh), Herald Angels Awards (Edinburgh), a Time Out Theatre Award (London), a Stewart Parker Trust Memorial Award, an Evening Standard Award (UK), a Writers Guild Award (London), a Lucille Lortel Award (Off-Broadway), an Outer Critics Circle Award (Broadway and Off-Broadway), and an Obie Award (Off-Broadway).
Find Out More