Theatre | Ireland
Irish Premiere
‘It’s rare to find storytelling as sharply and simply involving as this.’
Galway International Arts Festival presents
The Match Box
T h e Teleg r ap h
‘Frank McGuinness’ new play The Match Box, is a stunner. ‘
By Frank McGuinness
T h e O b s e r ve r
Starring Cathy Belton Directed by Joan Sheehy
Town Hall Theatre, Courthouse Square 15–26 July, 8pm No Interval Matinees 23 & 25 July, 2pm No show 20 July Tickets €20 – €29 Duration 1 hour 40 mins approx. Backstage at the Festival 21 July Post–show talk with the company giaf.ie/thematchbox
The ties that bind can never be broken and the shocking events that bring Sal to a remote exile on Valentia Island are as unexpected as they are brutal. Frank McGuinness has created an intriguing heroine, a woman to be pitied and feared in equal measure. Her compelling story begs only one question; what would you do if pushed to the very edge? Galway’s Cathy Belton, one of Ireland’s leading actors, makes her long awaited Festival debut in The Match Box. Cathy starred in the 2014 film Philomena directed by Stephen Frears, opposite Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, and most recently appeared in A Little Chaos opposite Kate Winslet, directed by Alan Rickman. She also stars in the new TV3 drama Red Rock. The creative team includes set & lighting design by Paul Keogan, original music by Teho Teardo and sound design by Helen Atkinson. Frank McGuinness’ plays include The Factory Girls, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, Carthaginians, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me and his Tony Award winning adaptation of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.
4 : G a lw ay I n t e r n at i o n a l A r t s F e s t i va l
P h o t o : C olm Hoga n
‘I think it fair to say all hell broke loose when I finished speaking.’
2 0 1 5 p r o g r a m ME : 5