Nomad Past Productions
Conversations
on a Homecoming
Autumn 07 - Nomad Venues
The Dead School
Autumn 08 - Nomad Venues
Autumn 09 - Dublin Theatre Festival
Spring 10 - Tricycle London
The Gift
Autumn 09 - Nomad Venues
Observe the
Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme
Autumn 09 - Nomad Venues
Further info
Nomad in association with Livin Dred Theatre Company presented Tom
Murphy's
CONVERSATIONS ON A HOMECOMING
in Autumn 2007
Not only was Conversations on a Homecoming, Nomad's debut production, a huge success with critics but also with the people of the north midlands region. After a very successful tour, Nomad went on to be nominated for the Judge's Special Award at the 2007 Irish Times Theatre Awards.
"Padraic McIntyre, an actor, a director and, it is now abundantly clear, an
actor's director has collaborated masterfully with an outstanding cast to plumb every
thought and detail of Murphy's play... This is, in the best sense, an intoxicating
experience"
The Irish Times, Fri 26th Oct 2007
read full Irish Times review (jpg image)
download programme (2Mb PDF)
CAST
Don Wycherley (Tom),
Andrew Bennett (Michael),
Peter Daly (Junior),
Michael Patric (Liam),
Karen Scully (Peggy),
Brid Ní Chumhaill (Missus)
Jenn Murray (Ann).
CONVERSATIONS ON A HOMECOMING, written by Tom Murphy, is regarded as one of the best plays of the last half century. It explores the beautiful art of conversation and the Irish hunger for exchanging news.
Set in a Galway pub in the early 1970s a group of friends gather together after an absence of ten years to welcome Michael, a failed actor, home from America. They settle into the usual slagging of the Irish pub, funny and barbed. The mean-mindedness of some of them shines through the humour and the slagging turns into something more barbed. Is JJ, the pub’s owner, the hero he seemed? Or is the country ready to follow ”any old bollocks that has read a book on American politics”. Is the local prosperous businessman half the man he thinks he is? Are they all disillusioned with heroes and loss of ideals or can they remember a time when there was hope and the world was theirs. When they are all in danger of falling into bitterness and hopelessness Peggy, the young girl, sings a song that changes the evening.
The play is brilliantly written, funny and sad, hopeless and full of hope. Playwrights don’t come better than Murphy and here he is at the height of his powers.
CREW
Padraic McIntyre - Director
Maree Kearns - Designer
Barry McKinney - Lighting Design
Phil Udel - Production Manager
Emma Doyle - Stage Manager
Colm O'Callaghan - Asst. Stage Manager
Eoin Lynch - Lighting Technician
Helen Foy - Costumes
Mary Cullivan - Administrator
2008/2009/2010
In 2008 and again in 2009, for the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival,
Nomad in association with Livin Dred Theatre Company presented the hugely successful
THE DEAD SCHOOL
by Pat McCabe
Directed by Padraic McIntyre
Autumn 2008 / Dublin Theatre Festival 09 / Tricycle London Spring 10
Photographs by Brian Farrell
Nominated for 3 Irish Times Theatre Awards
Best Production
Best Actor (Sean Campion)
Best Costume (Maree Kearns)
REVIEWS
“This is a very fine, accomplished piece of work."
Peter Crawley, The View
”Full of theatrical ingenuity.”
Peter Crawley, The View
“A very distinct and accomplished work”
Peter Crawley, The View
“It's a corker of a production."
Emer O’Kelly, Sunday Independent
"The entire cast…give seamlessly terrific support under
Padraic McIntyre's direction. But the play is Campion's: the performance is
haunting.”
Emer O’Kelly, Sunday Independent
“An extraordinary cast and a wonderful blinding ensemble.”
Declan Hughes, The View
"Director Padraic McIntyre harnesses the crazy energy of the
piece and, with his supreme control over the complex material, creates a coherent and
visually arresting production.” Sara Keating, Irish Times
“The production (is) so truthful and contemporary in many ways.”
Medb Ruane, The View
Download the review on RTE's the View (28MB IVR)
Read full Irish Times review by Sara Keating (32kb PDF)
Read full Sunday Independent review by Emer O'Kelly (39kb PDF)
~~~~
In this hugely successful collaboration, Nomad and Livin Dred joined forces with Pat McCabe to produce a new adaptation of the play THE DEAD SCHOOL based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name.
The play tells the story of a Head Master Raphael Bell, who having forged a model
career in teaching, comes head to head with young teacher Malachy Dudgeon. When Dudgeon
joins the staff the two become inextricably engaged in macabre relationship which proves
fatal to their fortunes and their sanity.
It's is a rollercoaster of emotion from start to finish. The fast pace of the play is
electrified by the character change, the restless movement, dark humor and intense
choreographed chaos.
CAST
Sean Campion,
Carrie Crowley,
Eamon Owens,
Peter Daly,
Gemma Reeves,
CREW
Director - Padraic McIntyre
Designer - Maree Kearns
Lighting Design - Barry McKinney
Production Manager - Martin Cahill
Stage Manager - Sophie Flynn
Asst. Stage Manager - Cathy Hegarty
Photographer - Brian Farrell
2009
Nomad in association with Monkeyshine Theatre Company presents
The Gift
Autumn 2009
One cold Christmas morning two children awake early to find a giant present waiting for them under the tree. Excitedly they tear open the paper only to discover that there is nothing inside, or so they think. When they take a closer look they discover a wonderful gift, a magical adventure into their imagination, full of surprises and delights.
2009
Nomad in association with Livin Dred Theatre Company presents
Observe
The Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme
by Frank McGuinness
Directed by Padraic McIntyre
Autumn 2009
Photographs by Brian Farrell
The compelling and moving story of eight men and the bonds that unite them as they prepare to fight in the terrible Battle of the Somme. Eight Ulstermen volunteer to join the 36th Ulster Division at the beginning of the First World War. Whilst their bonds of friendship grow amidst the horror and despair of the French trenches, they march towards their seemingly inevitable sacrifice.
This production is the third co-production from Nomad and Livin’ Dred and follows on the success of “The Dead School” and “Conversations on a Homecoming” McGuinness has given us a piece of theatre that is sharp, utterly modern and unforgettable.
An emotional and intellectual journey that is at once thought-provoking and inspiring.
CAST
Young Pyper - Marty Rea,
David Craig - Simon Boyle,
John Millen - Rory Nolan,
William Moore - John Cronin,
Christopher Roulston - Karl Quinn,
Martin Crawford - Kieran O'Brien,
George Anderson - Diarmaid Murtagh,
Nat McLlwaine - Ian Lloyd Anderson,
Old Pyper - Ian McEllhinney
