(formerly Donal O’Kelly Productions)

Jimmy Joyced! is included in a collection of twelve new plays published by Bewley’s Cafe Theatre, called Freshly Brewed. Published by Stinging Fly and edited by Declan Meade and Emily Firetog, Freshly Brewed is a welcome addition to the canon of Irish theatre publications. Jimmy Joyced! was first presented in Bewley’s Cafe Theatre in June 2004 for the Bloomsday centenary, directed by Sorcha Fox, and thanks to relentless encouragement from Bewley’s Cafe Theatre artistic director Michael James Ford. It has toured extensively in Ireland and abroad since then, and will continue to do so in the future (watch this space!).

CATALPA

Written and Performed by Donal O’Kelly
With Live Music Composed and Performed by Trevor Knight

November 12 – 30 | Tues-Fri 8pm, Sat 2pm & 8pm, Sun 3pm

Admission: $60 General Sale/ $55 Members

SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR OUR EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS!!
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“rip roaring theatrical adventure” (Washington Post).

Catalpa, written and performed by Donal O’Kelly, with live music by Trevor Knight, plays the Irish Arts Center New York for three weeks from 12 November to 30 November 2008. This New York run of Catalpa is supported by Culture Ireland. 

Visit www.irishartscenter.org for information and booking details.

Catalpa, written and performed by Donal O’Kelly with live music by Trevor Knight,  will be presented in two of the finest arts centres in Ireland on the weekend of the 17th and 18th of October 2008. Click on Catalpa on the sidebar for detailed information on the show.

On Friday 17th October, we revisit the Seamus Ennis Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin. This will be the second time Catalpa has played this powerhouse of a venue, and brings the number of performances by Donal O’Kelly Productions in Naul to seven (Catalpa twice, Running Beast twice, The Cambria, Jimmy Joyced! and of course, Vive La, which is set in The Naul). Booking 01 8020898 www.seamusenniscentre.com 

On Saturday 18th October, we bring Catalpa to Tech Amergin in Waterville in the Ring of Kerry. We were last in Waterville with Running Beast for the fantastic midsummer  Feile na Greine in June. We had a full house and a whale of a night, and we’re looking forward to returning with Catalpa. Booking 066 9478956 www.techamergin.com

The award-winning Catalpa will be presented in Glor Ennis on Friday 3rd October 2008, prior to embarking on an off-Broadway run in the Irish Arts Centre New York in November. 

It follows the highly successful performance of Running Beast in Glor on 20th August as part of the Merriman Summer School. And it continues the relationship between Glor and Donal O’Kelly Productions that started with the unique Glormet Supper Theatre double-bill of Jimmy Joyced! and The Cambria in October 2006.  

Donal O’Kelly will conduct a workshop, “Writing and Performing Your Own Material”, on Saturday 4th October, 11am-4pm.

On Saturday night 4th October, there will be a showing of Tom Collins’ ISDA award-winning bilingual movie Kings (Newgrange Films), in which Donal O’Kelly stars. The showing will be followed by a questions-and-answers session with the actor. 

Booking information from Glor at www.glor.ie  Tel. 065 6843103.

Catalpa returns to Dublin for a performance in the Axis Ballymun on Thursday 18th September, a benefit in aid of Children in Crossfire, organised by Mary-Lou Murray. Contact Axis box office for tickets, 01 8832100 www.axis-ballymun.ie

Written and performed by Donal O’Kelly, with live music by Trevor Knight, Catalpa tells the story of the whaleship rescue of six Fenian prisoners from Western Australia in 1976. Catalpa has been all over the world, winning a Fringe First award in Edinburgh and a Best Event award in Melbourne. 

Other upcoming Catalpa gigs are:-

Glor Ennis, Fri 3 October.  Tkts: 065 6843103  www.glor.ie

Seamus Ennis Centre, Naul, Fri 17 October.  Tkts: 01 8020898 www.seamusenniscentre.com

Tech Amergin, Waterville, Co. Kerry, Sat 18 October. Tkts: 066 9478956 www.techamergin.com

And watch this space for details of Catalpa’s off-Broadway run in the Irish Arts Centre, New York in November 2008.

Running Beast will be performed in Glor Ennis as part of the Merriman Summer School on Wednesday 20th August 2008.
Running Beast
Music by Michael Holohan
Text by Donal O’Kelly
A historical chamber-orchestra trad-rap!

Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone (1550-1616), as you’ve never imagined him before! Dubbed “Running Beast” by Queen Elizabeth’s court, he hurtles through his tempestuous life and his war against Tudor rule in Ireland. Accompanied by an eight-piece band!

Performed by Donal O’Kelly
Uilleann pipes: Mick O’Brien
String quartet: Maire Breatnach
Steve Larkin
Simone Mendonca
Diane O’Keeffe
Double Bass: Dan Bodwell
Percussion: Robbie Harris
Keyboard: Michael Holohan

“O’Kelly’s vividly colourful text, full of battle, political skullduggery and racy courtship, fits hand in glove with Holohan’s suggestive and evocative musicianship to produce a perfectly tailored evening”. DAILY MAIL

“A striking portrait of a striking man .. superb .. Holohan’s score is wonderful .. richly haunting .. wonderfully evocative”. SUNDAY TRIBUNE

Booking: Glor Tel 065 6843103 www.glor.ie

East Lane Films’ tv documentary about Donal O’Kelly’s work “What Am I Doing Here” is nearing completion, directed by Trish McAdam. Funded by the Arts Council “Documenting the Arts” scheme. Watch this space for further news.

Catalpa, written and performed by Donal O’Kelly with live music by Trevor Knight, will be presented in the Glens Centre Manorhamilton County Leitrim on Friday 20th June at 8.30pm. Donal O’Kelly Productions has a Comrades-in-Arts relationship with the Glens Centre. Watch out for more Catalpa performances during the summer. It was revived following an unprecedented performance gap of a year-and-a-half, and we had a memorable night in Rathdangan Co. Wicklow on 6th June.

Following it’s stunning success in the main auditorium of the National Concert Hall on Sunday 11th May, joined by the Orchestra of St Cecilia, Running Beast is on the road again!

It will be presented in Tech Amergin, Waterville County Kerry, at 8.30pm on Monday 23rd June as part of the wonderful Feile na Greine. For information or booking, log on to www.feilenagreine.com or email techamergin@eircom.net, tel 066 9478956.

The midsummer bonfire will be lit after the Running Beast performance, with music from Ardu. The Great O’Neill would certainly have approved, though he wasn’t too fond of Munster! It promises to be a great night.