by Rose Rushe
Photo: Gareth Williams/ Press 22
BOTTOM Dog Theatre Company had one hell of a year just past, as a collective and for of its core members individually*.
Productions ‘What Happened Bridgie Cleary’; the read play ‘Democracy’; ‘The Bachelor of Kilkish’ and a quartet of read War Plays played to its strengths and augmented budget through City of Culture. Certainly, the crowds came and heaved. ‘Bridgie’ toured to 18 venues, actress Joanne Ryan in the offing for an Irish Times Theatre award.
What’s new for 2015? The forward haul to January of its Four (read only) Plays series “which has kind of become a staple part of the programme,” explains its annual protective producer, Liam O’Brien. “Bottom Dog has been doing these rehearsed readings since 2009”.
Each year the theme differs and holds the dramas together. He makes the point that Four War Plays in 2014 was put back to November to coincide with World War 1 and opened on Armistice Day with RC Sheriff’s emotional ‘Journey’s End’.
Heading so soon again into the Sunday night suite (defined by professional actors choreographed in their parts by a guest or Bottom Dog director) makes sense in this relatively fallow month for performing arts. There is also O’Brien’s considerable energy to make capital on 2014’s blast: “We want to keep to passion in it”. Also, audiences have galvanised as they broadened, he feels: “People see the point in getting up off their sofa”.
There’s another driver, the #Limerickandproud hashtag flagwaving our identity as diverse, achieving, singular. To this end, Liam O’Brien is plotting for plays “written for here by artists, plays that have been successful and have travelled”.
Past fellow with Bottom Dog, Mike Finn was his first call to blaze in the new series with ‘Pigtown’. High five to the boys, Bottom Dog will open with this former Island Theatre Company hit that lives on today in Bourn Vincent Gallery by way of John Collins’ dedicated paintings.
Next up, John Breen was contacted about his eternal crowd-puller, ‘Alone It Stands’. Slot three could be for another Island hit, ‘Borrowed Robes’ – “my first ever professional play,” admits O’Brien with a grin. “I played a young priest. I was 18 years old then, 1998”.
Actor John A Murphy was nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Award for his fire-and-brimstone Redemptorist and then it’s a play written by Murphy, ‘Small One’ which platformed at Belltable with Joan Sheehy that is co-runner for this or the fourth #Limerickandproud slot.
The producer is also exploring Bottom Dog’s ‘The Revenger’s Tragedy’ and another, Myles Breen as playwright and performer in ‘Language Unbecoming a Lady’. ‘Language Unbecoming’ is gold dust, a poignant, reflective story with a beating heart, and is directed by Liam O’Brien.
More anon on venue and winter dates for Sunday night fever, 8pm. As ever, pay what you can mar dul isteach ar an doras.
* Bottom Dog: Myles Breen, Mike Burke, Pius McGrath, John Murphy, Liam O’Brien
