The heavy downpours all day couldn't dampen the sense of excitement at the opening night of Crestfall at the Gate Theatre this week. The new work by Mark O'Rowe, which is directed by Garry Hynes, attracted a full house.
Actor Stephen Rea, film director Damien O'Donnell, singer Fiachna Ó Braonáin and comedian Ardal O'Hanlon lined up to take their seats before the performance.
Gerard McSorley, chatted to fellow actor Seán McGinley in the foyer beforehand. Fergus Cronin, a director of the Kilkenny Arts Festival, which will be opening on Friday, August 8th, and Maureen Kennelly, the festival's former artistic director, joined the throng. Kennelly produced one of O'Rowe's earlier plays, From Both Hips, in the Project Arts Centre in 1997.
O'Rowe, a Dublin-born playwright, with his wife, Aoife Ruane, from Cratloe, Co Clare, greeted friends and family, including his parents, Hugh and Patricia.
O'Rowe's next opening will be the gala screening of Intermission, which is directed by John Crowley and produced by Neil Jordan and Stephen Woolley. O'Rowe is the screen-writer.
Séamus Crimmins, arts policy director with the Arts Council, and Patricia Quinn, director of the Arts Council, were there, both pleased to report that choreographer Finola Cronin (sister of Fergus Cronin), has been appointed Arts Council dance specialist, they said.
Crestfall is at the Gate until June 7th