THE New York based Irish company, Origin Theatre will host its first event in Limerick this Saturday 20, 4pm at Lime Tree Theatre, with the famous McCourt brothers Malachy and Alphie and Ellen Frey McCourt, widow of the Pulitzer winning Frank.
Origin’s artistic director George Helsin, himself a Limerick man, will conduct a stage interview with the brothers, also writers and Ellen is joining them for conversation. This is one in a formal episodic series at Lime Tree initiated by theatre manager Louise Donlan. It’s a free event but do book on www.limetreetheatre.ie
All three McCourts are living in the States but are in Ireland to celebrate the Lime Tree’s production of Angela’s Ashes – A Musical, which runs until Saturday 20, 8pm. UnContained Arts in Derby is the producer.
This is your chance to hear first hand about the McCourt’s memories of Limerick, Ellen’s story of her first ‘date’ with Frank in the literary bar The Lion’s Head in the West Village to the two of them marrying in 1995 and Origin’s artistic director, George C. Helsin is delighted to be interviewing these three people, all for whom is their first time being interviewed in Ireland.
Malachy McCourt was born in Brooklyn but was raised in Limerick from the age of three. He’s a very successful theatre and TV actor and is a frequent guest on The Tonight Show and more recently on the Conan O’Brien show, Conan. Alphie McCourt, the youngest of all the McCourt boys was born in Limerick but followed his older brothers to the States in 1959.
He has most recently penned his own memories called A Long Stone’s Throw. Ellen Frey McCourt, a former television public-relations executive married Frank in 1995. It is widely rumoured that she encouraged he write down his memories and without her, Angela’s Ashes would never have been written.
Origin Theatre is fast becoming internationally recognised for producing the acclaimed 1st Irish Festival, a month-long event showcasing productions from Ireland and the U.S. of plays by new Irish playwrights. The upcoming 2013 edition of 1st Irish will be the sixth annual festival and runs from September to October in various prestigious theatres and venues in Manhattan.
British actor Brendan Coyle, who plays the ill-fated valet Bates on the hugely successful series Downton Abbey, is honorary patron for Origin Theatre.
This live Limerick interview is a free event but you need to reserve your booking by contacting Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, directly on 061 774 774
