Dublin The Circus Animals’ Desertion Brokentalkers. 4 STARS **** Samuel Beckett Theatre, Trinity College, Dublin 2. Until 8th October 2016 Oct.8th: 2.30pm & 7.30pm Runs 70 mins, No interval. TICKETS: +353 1 6778439 www.dublintheatrefestival.com Review: Anne O’Leary 6th October 2016.  Slow cooking creates a very tasty dish

Dublin THE Seagull by Anton Chekov, new version by Corn Exchange STARS 3*** Gaiety Theatre, Dublin 2, until 16th October 2016 Oct. 11-14th, 7.30pm , Oct. 15th 2.30pm. Oct. 16th 1.30pm Audio described performance: 15th Oct. 2.30pm Runs 2hours, 30 mins, One interval of 20mins TICKETS: +353 1 6778439 www.dublintheatrefestival.com Review: Anne O’Leary 12th October 2016.  Powerful slant, but missed the depth of the Russian soul.

Dublin First Love by Samuel Beckett 5 STARS ***** O’Reilly Theatre, Belvedere College, Dublin Until October 16th, Runs 60 mins, No interval. TICKETS: +353 1 6778439 www.dublintheatrefestival.com Review: Anne O’Leary 13th October 2016.  Simply as powerful as it gets

Dublin Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, adapted for the stage by Marina Carr 4 STARS**** Abbey Theatre, Dublin 1, until 28 January 2017. Mon-Sat 7.00pm , Saturday Matinees 1.30pm. Runs 3Hr and 30 mins, including one interval of 20mins. TICKETS: +353 1 8787222 www.abbeytheatre.ie Review: Anne O’Leary 16 December 2016. Faithful, better than other versions, a treat.

KING LEAR by William Shakespeare. Abbey Theatre, 26 Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1. To 23 March. 7.30 pm. Saturday Matinee 2 pm. Runs 3hrs 30 mins, one interval. Tickets: 00 3531 8787 222 www.abbeytheatre.ie Review: Michael Paye 19 February 2013. A promising beginning.

Dublin Disco Pigs by Enda Walsh. Smock Alley Theatre, 7 Lower Exchange Street, County Dublin. To 13 July. 6 pm. Runs 55 mins, no interval. Tickets: 00 3531 677 0014 www.smockalley.com Review: Michael Paye 9 July 2012. Energised and Intense.

MAJOR BARBARA by George Bernard Shaw. Abbey Theatre, 26 Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1. To 21 September. 7.30 pm. Saturday Matinee 2 pm. Runs 3hrs 10 mins, one interval. Tickets: 00 3531 8787 222 www.abbeytheatre.ie Review: Michael Paye 9 August 2013. Unbalanced production that, nevertheless, has its moments.

Thoughts on the Dublin Theatre Festival, featuring (among others) THE CRITIC by Richard Brinsley Sheridan;The Culture Box, 12 East Essex Street, Temple Bar. To 13 October 2013;Runs 1hr 30 mins, no interval. Tickets: Dublintheatrefestival.com 

 Review Feature: Michael Paye 10 October 2013. The Critic as a much-needed Critique

Tour. THE PILLOWMAN by Martin McDonagh. Tour to 19 April 2015. Runs 2hr 45min One interval. Review: Anne O’Leary 6 March at Gaiety Theatre Dublin. Brilliantly realised theatricality.

Dublin. DEATH OF A COMEDIAN by Owen McCafferty. Abbey Theatre (Peacock Stage) 26-27 Lower Abbey Street Dublin 1 To 4 April. Wed-Sat 8pm no performance 3 Apr Mat Sat 2.30pm. TICKETS: 01 87 87 222. www.abbeytheatre.ie then Soho Theatre 21 Dean Street W1D 3NE 14 April-17 May 2015. Tue-Sat 7.15pm Sun 5pm Mat Sat & 23, 30 April, 7, 14 May 3pm. Audio-described 6 May. Captioned 5 May. TICKETS: 020 7478 0100. Runs 1hr 15min No interval. Review: Anne O’Leary …

Dublin. HEDDA GABLER by Henrik Ibsen adapted by Mark O’Rowe. Abbey Theatre 26-27 Lower Abbey Street Dublin 1 To 16 May 2015 Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2pm. Runs 2hr 35 min One interval. TICKETS: 01 8787 222. www.abbeytheatre.ie Review: Anne O’Leary 17 April 2015. A modern fit yet still true to Ibsen.

Tour. STAR OF THE SEA adapted from the novel by Joseph O’Connor. Moonfish Theatre in collaboration with An Taibhdhearc Tour to 24 October 2015. Runs 2hr 15min One interval. Review: Anne O’Leary 24 September at Draíocht Theatre, Blanchardstown, Dublin. Vivid tale of a voyage that’s deservedly going on tour.

Dublin The Playboy of the Western World by John Millington Synge. Smock Alley Theatre, 7 Lower Exchange Street, County Dublin. To 5 August. 7.30 pm. Saturday and Sunday matinee at 2.30 pm. Runs 120 mins, one interval. To Sun 05 08 12 Tickets: 00 3531 677 0014 www.smockalley.com Review: Michael Paye 13 July 2012. An enjoyable, energetic performance in the intimate confines of Ireland’s oldest theatre.

London/Tour LADY GREGORY: A GALWAY LIFE by Phil Mason. Pentameters Theatre 28 Heath Street NW3 6TE To 11 October. Tue-Sat 8pm Sun 5pm. Post-show Discussion 11 Oct. TICKETS: 020 7435 3648. www.pentameters.co.uk then tour 15-24 October 2015. Runs 1hr 25min One interval. Review: Timothy Ramsden 6 October. A woman of some importance to Irish theatre revealed.

Dublin. THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS: Sean O’Casey. The O’Reilly Theatre 21 Great Denmark Street Dublin 1. To 15 September. 8pm Mat Sat 3pm. BSL Signed 6 September. Captioned 8 September. then tour to 3 November 2012. Runs 3hr 5min One interval. Tickets: 00 3531 8787 222. www.abbeytheatre.ie Review: Michael Paye 3 August 2012. O’Casey’s play revivified in engaging production.

Manchester. INTO THE WOODS book by James Lapine lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim. Royal Exchange Theatre St Ann’s Square M2 7D To 16 January 2016. Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat, 3 & 10 Jan 2.30pm. no performance 4, 11 Jan. Runs 3hr 5min One interval. TICKETS: 0161 833 9833. www.royalexchange.co.uk/intothewoods Review: Timothy Ramsden: 12 December. Ingenuity beyond the call of narrative.

Oxford/Ireland DRUIDMURPHY by Tom Murphy. Oxford Playhouse Beaumont Street OX1 To 25 August 2012. 22 Aug 7.30pm, 24 Aug 8pm. Conversations on a Homecoming Runs 1hr 45min No interval. 21, 23 Aug 7.30pm. A Whistle in the Dark Runs 2hr 35min One interval, 20 Aug 7.30pm, 23 Aug 2.30pm Famine Runs 2hr 40min One interval. DruidMurphy (all 3 plays) 25 Aug 1.30pm. TICKETS: 01865 305305. www.oxfordplayhouse.com Review: Timothy Ramsden 18 August. A final English week for fine Irish dramas.

Dublin and touring The Plough and the Stars By Sean O’Casey Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Until 23 April and then on tour in Ireland until 28 May Runs 2 hours and 30 minutes including a 20 minute interval. Review: Anne O’Leary, 19th March 2016 A memorable production

Marilyn Monroe Airlines: Always Late and Unreliable by Leonor Bethencourt. Smock Alley Theatre, 7 Lower Exchange Street, County Dublin. To 8 September. Then touring to The Savoy Limerick, September 27th & 28th (Further tour dates to be announced.) Full info: www.zocorro.com. 8 pm. Runs 50 mins, no interval. Tickets: 00 3531 677 0014 www.smockalley.com Review: Michael Paye 8 September 2012. Some funny moments, but lacks cohesion