Lucy Barton comes to Kildare
It will be staged for one night only
‘My Name is Lucy Barton’ by beloved American author Elizabeth Strout was a New York Times best-seller in 2016 and was shortlisted for the 2018 International Dublin Literary Award. It was adapted for the stage by Rona Munro and has been performed on the West End and Broadway with Laura Linney in the titular role. On 18 July, it comes to the Moat Theatre and Arts Centre, Naas, for one night only.
The play tells the story of the eponymous emerging writer, who wakes up after an operation in a New York hospital to find her estranged mother at the foot of her bed. During this unexpected visit, Lucy tries to come to an understanding of her past, the complicated and complex love between herself and her mother and how much she has gained and lost to become a writer.
Until May 2, the play had never been performed in Ireland. On that night at Esker Arts in Tullamore, local theatre company, Nomad Players, brought Lucy Barton to life.
Fiona Breen of Offaly Drama Project said of the Tullamore production, “Intimate and delicate, My Name Is Lucy Barton unfolded with atmospheric intensity and subtle humour brought to life by the Nomad creative team. A compelling, quietly devastating piece of theatre that lingered long after the final moment.”
Nomad Players are Maeve O’Donovan and Eilish Rafferty, two theatre makers from the Midlands who specialise in telling the stories of ordinary women who do what society might consider bad things or make bad choices. Previous productions include Laughing Wild by Christopher Durang, Without Apology, a double bill of the Neil LaBute monologues Medea Redux and All The Ways to Say I Love You, and Invisible Women, a double bill of the Alan Bennett monologues Her Big Chance and Bed Among the Lentils. In this production, directed by Eilish Rafferty, Maeve O’Donovan plays Lucy Barton.
“Lucy fears she may be betraying her parents by telling the story of her impoverished and traumatic childhood,” said Rafferty, who directs this production. “The play is about coming to terms with your family, as an adult, and realising the importance of telling your story.”
My Name is Lucy Barton is at the Moat Theatre, Naas, on Saturday July 18 at 8pm. Tickets from www.moattheatre.com
This production is by permission of Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.
Tickets: €18/€16 from https://moattheatre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873685602