Ballyturk Opens to Packed House as Arlington Set Designer Honoured

Landmark Productions’ and Galway International Arts Festival’s production Ballyturk by Tony Award winning playwright Enda Walsh opened to a packed house at the Abbey Theatre on Monday night, in the wake of both production companies’ hit play Arlington taking home the Best Set Design gong at the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards on Sunday night.

Abbey Theatre Opening attended by Original Ballyturk Cast Members

Playwright Enda Walsh was joined by Cillian Murphy and Stephen Rea, who starred in the original 2014 production of Ballyturk, and a huge array of other well-known personalities from the theatre, television and entertainment worlds, including film director Jim Sheridan, broadcasters Gay Byrne, Kathleen Watkins and Ian Dempsey, actors Seán McGinley, Eamonn Morrissey, Kate Mulgrew (from Star Trek Voyager and Orange is the New Black) and Hugh O’Conor who starred in Arlington, which finished its run at the Abbey last week.

Ian Llyod Anderson (centre) with Abbey Theatre Directors Graham McLaren and Neil Murray at the opening of Ballyturk.

Kathleen Watkins and Gay Byrne pictured at the opening of Ballyturk at the Abbey Theatre.

Stephen Rea and Ellie Kisyombe pictured at the opening of Ballyturk at the Abbey Theatre.

Seán McGinley pictured at the opening of Ballyturk at the Abbey Theatre.

In attendance from Galway International Arts Festival were CEO John Crumlish and Artistic Director Paul Fahy, who were joined by Anne Clarke (Producer) and Sara Cregan (Associate Producer) from Landmark Productions.

Ballyturk premiered at GIAF to huge acclaim in 2014 and became the fastest selling show in the Festival’s history. It made its UK premiere at the National Theatre of Great Britain in London, where it was included in The Guardian’s Top 10 Theatre Shows of the Year. The show received multiple award nominations, and was awarded both Best Sound Design and Best Production at the Irish Times Theatre Awards in 2015.

This new production of Ballyturk is a Landmark Productions and Galway International Arts Festival co-production in association with the Abbey Theatre and stars Olwen Fouéré, Mikel Murfi and Tadhg Murphy.

The world-class creative team includes set and costume design by Jamie Vartan, lighting design by Adam Silverman, sound design by Helen Atkinson with original music composed by Teho Teardo.

Arlington Set Designer Honoured

Jamie Vartan took home the Best Set Design award at the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards at the National Concert Hall on Monday night for his work on Arlington, Blue Raincoat Theatre Company’s production of Shackleton and the Wide Open Opera production of The Barber of Seville, by Gioacchino Rossini.

Jamie Vartan accepts his Best Set Design award at the Irish Times Theatre Awards on Monday night. ​Photo courtesy of The Irish Times.

Ballyturk runs at the Abbey Theatre until 11 March 2017. Limited tickets are still available from www.abbeytheatre.ie.