Theater News

Full Casting Set for Stephen Rea-Led Cyprus Avenue

Vicki Featherstone directs the new play at the Public Theater.

Stephen Rea will return to the Public Theater for Cyprus Avenue.
Stephen Rea will return to the Public Theater for Cyprus Avenue.
(© Ros Kavanagh)

The Public Theater has announced complete casting for the Abbey Theatre and Royal Court Theatre coproduction of David Ireland's new play Cyprus Avenue. It runs June 2-July 29 at the Public's LuEsther Hall, with opening night set for June 25.

Tony and Oscar nominee Stephen Rea, Chris Corrigan, and Amy Molloy — all of whom were in the original productions of the play in Dublin and Belfast — will star in this limited US engagement, which is directed by Royal Court artistic director Vicky Featherstone. They will be joined by Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo (Bridget) and Andrea Irvine (Bernie).

Cyprus Avenue is described as "David Ireland's subversively funny and savage new play about one man trying to make sense of a radically changed world. Eric Miller (Stephen Rea) is a Belfast Unionist. He is exclusively and non-negotiably British. But nowadays he is worried he might be Irish. When Eric sees a likeness between his new-born granddaughter and the Irish republican leader, Gerry Adams, his sanity starts to unravel. Determined to defend his family and his heritage, Eric's lifetime of ingrained prejudice and unsettled identity push him to the edge."

The production has scenic and costume design by Lizzie Clachan, lighting design by Paul Keogan, sound design by David McSeveny, and fight direction by Bret Yount.