What is a 24 Hour Play?
The New York based 24 Hour Plays Company patented the concept of 24 Hour Plays after their first production took place in Manhattan in October 1995. It is basically time limited theatre, meaning the short plays presented on Saturday 20th January, started to be written at 9pm on Friday 19th January. Playwrights write overnight to deliver a fully written play by 6am. Directors and cast then rehearse from 7am on Saturday 20th January and audiences enjoy the plays the same day in the evening.
Who is involved in the 24 Hour Plays Limerick?
We have asked theatre makers with a Limerick connection to be involved. Either they live and work in Limerick, are from Limerick or have engaged with Belltable significantly over the past two years. Despite some availability clashes, we managed to put together a superb team of 35 seasoned professionals, mid-career artists and those who are just starting out, too.
The plays were written by Helena Close, Mary Coll, Mike Finn, Liam McCarthy and Paul McNamara.
Our directors were Ann Blake, Tara Doolan, Paul Meade, Terry O’Donovan and Joan Sheehy.
Actors included Pat Ryan, Gene Rooney, Monica Spencer, Joanne Ryan, Jean McGlynn, Cora Fenton, Simon Thompson, Marie Boylan, Frances Healy, Pius McGrath, Shane Whisker, Deirdre Flynn, Zeb Moore, Eilis O’Donnell, Colin Condon, Norma Lowney, Katie O’Kelly and Aideen Wylde.
Our production team included line producer Mags O’Donoghue, stage managers Kerrie Ahern and Emily Waters, technical manager Gary Lysaght, lighting designer John Gunning and Sharon Kiely overlooked the production from the props/costume/set perspective.
What to expect as an audience member?
Five short plays, as new as they can possibly be. An hour of energy and fun, theatre showcasing talent in and from Limerick. The project was an extreme feat of under-pressure production, the evening will delight and excite as leading actors, playwrights and directors created, rehearsed, and presented brand new work in just 24 hours.