Irish premiere of McDonagh’s ‘The Pillowman’

Galway’s Decadent Theatre Company has assembled an all-star cast for the Irish premiere of Martin McDonagh’s 2003 play The Pillowman which opens in the Town Hall Theatre next Monday, following three previews this week.

Gary Lydon and David McSavage – who is better known as a comedian – head up a cast which also includes Michael Ford Fitzgerald, Tara Finn, Kate Murray, Peter Campion, Peter Shine and Jarlath Tivnan.

The play, directed by Decadent’s Artistic Director Andrew Flynn, opens in the prison cell of a totalitarian state where Katurian, a young, not very successful, writer is being interrogated about stories he has written for and about children. These grim tales have inspired copycat killings in the real world. His interrogators tease out the resemblance between real and fictional worlds while exploring the writer’s responsibility. When it’s revealed that a parallel interview with the writer’s brother – who has special needs – is taking place in the adjoining cell, the tension really ratchets up.

This black comedy, one of McDonagh’s earlier works, explores children’s tales and people’s needs to create fantasy worlds, while defending the rights of the storyteller.  It won the 2004 Olivier Award for best play when it was premiered by London’s National Theatre in 2003 and the New York Drama Critics’ Award for best foreign play when in subsequently played on Broadway.

Decadent’s recent productions have included Stuart Carolan’s Defender of the Faith and McDonagh’s A Skull in Connemara, which was part of the London/Irish writer’s Leenane Trilogy.

The Pillowman will be staged in Galway until February 28 with previews until February 21. It will then tour to Dublin, Cork and Belfast. Tickets €20/18 and €12 for previews. Booking 091-569777, tht.ie and from the venue.