Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF) continues to expand its impact well beyond the summer season, with the recent tour of the Landmark Productions and GIAF co-production Reunion to two leading theatres - the Kiln Theatre, London and the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin.
Originally premiered at GIAF 2024, Reunion, written and directed by Mark O’Rowe, has now reached new audiences across two countries, demonstrating GIAF’s growing role as a year-round cultural producer and ambassador for Irish arts on the international stage.
Reach and acclaim
Across the tour, Reunion reached over 15,000 audience members across 45 performances, with consistently strong audience responses and critical praise. The Sunday Independent described Mark O’Rowe’s play as a ‘magnificent family drama’ while The Stage called the play ‘a domestic drama par excellence’. The Spectator referred to the show as ‘the essence of theatre’; Theatre Weekly described the cast as ‘magnificent’, and one of the world leading theatre critics Michael Billington wrote ‘Ireland brims with brilliant actors – a joy to watch.’
“Our work on Reunion is part of a wider strategy to ensure GIAF’s impact extends throughout the year. By touring productions like this, we bring the creativity nurtured in Galway to major stages nationally and internationally - and in doing so, we continue to strengthen our co-producing partnerships and raise the profile of Irish artists worldwide,” said Paul Fahy, GIAF’s Artistic Director.
“This tour represents our growing year-round impact - sharing stories and creative voices from Ireland with audiences at home and abroad. We’re proud to continue building partnerships that extend the Festival’s reach, create new opportunities for artists, and demonstrate the value of Galway International Arts Festival as a platform for exceptional, original work,” added John Crumlish, Galway International Arts Festival’s CEO.
Many high-profile actors and writers, including Imelda Staunton, Jim Carter, Sinéad Cusack, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Domhnall Gleeson, Enda Walsh and Zadie Smith attended performances during the run.
The Reunion tour reflects GIAF’s commitment to developing and co-producing exceptional new work that resonates far beyond the Festival’s annual dates. Future projects will continue to build on this momentum, strengthening partnerships and expanding opportunities for artists and audiences alike.
Reunion featured a stellar Irish cast, including Ian-Lloyd Anderson, Venetia Bowe, Stephen Brennan, Leonard Buckley, Simone Collins, Peter Corboy, Kate Gilmore, Stephen Hagan, Aislín McGuckin and Catherine Walker.
Landmark Productions and Galway International Arts Festival are grateful to the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon for its support of the premiere production, and to Culture Ireland for its support of the performances at Kiln Theatre in London.
For nearly half a century, Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF) has helped shape Galway’s cultural landscape - presenting a world-class annual festival that unites local and international artists across a vibrant, multidisciplinary programme; commissioning; producing and touring new work; and championing leading ideas through its First Thought series, while increasingly embedding inclusivity and sustainability across its programmes.
As it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027, GIAF continues to enhance Galway’s reputation as a creative, innovative and internationally connected city.
GIAF 2026 will take place from 13–26 July.
