Pat Moylan, Donal Shiels and Breda Cashe in association with MCD present
The 50th Anniversary Production of
The Field
By John B Keane
Starring Michael Harding as The Bull McCabe
Directed by Padraic McIntyre
23 April – 16 May 2015
Gaiety Theatre
ON SALE TOMORROW
To mark the 50th anniversary of the first staging of John B Keane’s The Field, an exciting new production will be presented at The Gaiety Theatre this April. When The Field was first produced in 1965 it captivated audiences with its dark portrayal of life in north Kerry. It continues to strike a chord with audiences throughout the world. The story burrows deep into the heart of rural Ireland in the late 50s. At its core is the enduring link between the Irish people and ‘the land’.
This new production will star Michael Harding in the iconic role of the Bull McCabe, one of the greatest roles in the Irish theatre canon. Michael is best known for his memoirs; the multi award-winning Staring at Lakes and his recently published Hanging with the Elephants. Michael has written numerous plays, six of which were produced by the Abbey Theatre.
The producers commented: “We’re delighted that Michael has agreed to play the ‘Bull’. His innate connection with rural Ireland and vast experience with the spoken and written word place him centre-stage for this role.”
Directed by Padraic McIntyre (The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Tinker’s Curse, Conversations on a Homecoming – Livin’ Dred Theatre Company), the creative team will also include Liam Doona, Set Designer; Kate Moylan, Costume Designer and Eamon Fox, Lighting Designer. Further cast details to be announced.
Based on the true story of the 1959 murder of Moss Moore, a bachelor farmer in Co. Kerry. Moore’s neighbour, Dan Foley, with whom he had a long standing dispute over a right of way, was believed to have committed the murder. Foley’s family denied the charge and no one was ever brought to justice.
Michael Harding playwright, actor and writer was born in Cavan. He has performed many of his own works as solo plays, and has also performed with Gare St Lazare Players, The Abbey Theatre, Blue Raincoat Theatre and in workshop with Theatre du Radeau in France. His play The Tinker’s Curse was nominated in the Best New Play category at the Irish Times Theatre Awards in 2007. He was twice nominated for Best Performer in the Dublin Theatre Fringe, and won the award in 2003. He has directed for the Abbey, written for the National Folk Theatre and performed with the National Folk Theatre Company. His work has been performed in Dublin, Cork, Edinburgh, New York and Chicago. He is a past recipient of the Stewart Parker Theatre Bursary and the Bank of Ireland/RTÉ Award for excellence in the Arts (both 1990), and was writer-in-association with The Abbey Theatre in 1993.
John B Keane was born in Listowel, Co Kerry in 1928. He published forty-six works, but is best known for his plays which include Sive, Sharon’s Grave, The Man from Clare, The Year of The Hiker, The Field, Many Young Men of Twenty, Big Maggie, Moll, The Crazy Wall, The Buds of Ballybunion, The Chastitute and Faoiseamh. His novels are The Bodhran Makers, Durango, The Contractors, A High Meadow. He has published many books of humorous essays and letters including Letters of a TD, Love Bites, and Owl Sandwiches. He has published one book in Irish, Dan Pheadí Aíndí. His biography is Man of The Triple Name. He died in 2002 aged 73 years.
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