A musical motif and a tale of deceit will take over the Abbey stage in early 2023. 

• Tales from the Holywell – Damien Dempsey’s soulful telling of the Dubliner’s thoughts and stories in a fully-fledged theatrical production, directed by Conor McPherson.
  30 January – 18 February 2023 

• Tartuffe – an exuberant new version of Molière’s 17th century comedy by Frank McGuinness, directed by Artistic Director Caitríona McLaughlin 
  3 March – 8 April 2023 

Tales from the Holywell 

Damien Dempsey’s powerful music and songwriting will be celebrated in Tales from the Holywell, the story of a young boy from Dublin’s northside finding his voice, his muse and his tribe. This theatrical production weaves spiritual songs sprung from Dempsey’s childhood home in Holywell Crescent in Donaghmede with an autobiographical narrative of Damo’s own story. 

“As Damien’s devoted legion of fans will attest, he is in touch with something powerful, mysterious and elemental.” Conor McPherson, Director and Abbey Theatre Senior Associate Writer. “Tales from the Holywell promises a moving and humorous glimpse into the mind of an artist at the height of his powers. Not to mention songs to make our hearts soar and our tears flow. I’m honoured and excited to be part of Damien’s first ever Abbey Theatre production.” 

For tickets and more information, click here.

Tartuffe 

Frank McGuinness’ modernising-’Irishising’ of Moliere’s original 17th century dialogue combines the rhyming flow of his Tartuffe with Frank McGuinness’ boisterous and hilarious updating of this layered classic, where deceit and confusion abound. 

“Molière skewered the hypocrisy and sanctimony of the French court of the sixteenth century with Tartuffe, but he’s actually writing about the same impulses that still drive much of our discourse online today” Caitríona McLaughlin, Artistic Director, Abbey Theatre. “Like Tartuffe, we ostentatiously perform our virtue on social media, and like the man he dupes, Orgon, we are blinded by admiration for those that perform their virtue most dazzlingly. It’s basically Twitter in periwigs; brutal and hilarious.”

For tickets and more information, click here.