Photo by Pat Redmond
‘one of the most powerful theatrical experiences since that last stage-closing contagion 412 years ago’
Mark Lawson, Standpoint Magazine 'The Dublin-based Fishamble company is only rarely in New York, and when they are, you’ve got to go. On whatever hill they’re on, you'll find a thrill.' ★★★★ Time Out New York ‘It’s hard to find a word that captures it adequately. ‘Superb’ will have to do.’ ★★★★ Irish Times |
On Blueberry HillBy Sebastian Barry
On Blueberry Hill was originally produced by Fishamble and will be produced in London's West End by Trafalgar Theatre Productions and Fishamble in 2020. The production is now available on Audible. Fishamble will live-stream a performance in 2021. ‘Now we’ve lived together in contentment, more or less, for nigh on twenty year. Like turtle doves. – In prison, I mean, for fuck’s sake, the chances of that.’ Directed by Fishamble’s Jim Culleton, this new play is bursting with humanity, as it explores forgiveness, survival and, ultimately, love. In Barry’s beautiful style, On Blueberry Hill features best of friends and worst of enemies Christy (Niall Buggy) and PJ (David Ganly), who are destined to share their lives for twenty years. As the two men reflect on the hope and torment of life outside - they slowly uncover the events that have led them to their world with explosive, bittersweet consequences. On Blueberry Hill was developed and produced in 2017 and 2019 with the support of Arts Council Ireland, and has toured internationally to the CCI in Paris and 59E59 Theaters as part of 1st Irish in New York, with the support of Culture Ireland. #OnBlueberryHill |
2021 Performances
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3 - 10 Aug
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Theaters 59E59, New York
ONLINE |
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10 - 16 Aug
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TRAVERSE THEATRE, Edinburgh, as part of Edinburgh Fringe Festival
ONLINE |
Reviews
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'ravishing… confirms the writers’s gift for finding the holiness in the everyday… the past they summon... almost blinds in its radiance before being swallowed by night… ravishing...consummate Irish actors... steeped in a luminous wonder… directed with a slow caressing hand' Ben Brantley, New York Times ‘Jim Culleton’s rapt production for Fishamble wonderfully captures the idea of bullseye moments, of episodes of an electric awareness – the cell “vibrates” with the energy of the two men – but also a stately mythology, the bringing of shades to life.’ ★★★★ The Guardian ‘Prison play by Sebastian Barry is sublime… An enchanting evening from a major literary voice.’ ★★★★ The Telegraph 'Gripping and heart-filling … It’s a finely crafted piece, with some lines sweet enough to drink, others capable of breaking you apart.' ★★★★ The Stage ‘This two-hander, which is brilliantly executed by two supremely gifted Irish character actors, has a fierce beating heart.’ ★★★★ Sunday Times ‘An absolute thrill… lyrical prose that lifts the mundane to the sublime. Barry paints a vivid Ireland, rich in texture, breathtakingly beautiful and bleakly gritty. Ganly and Buggy are wonderfully in tune with the rhythms, humour, and tragedy of their distinctive monologues. But language is undeniably the star of the show…Director Jim Culleton gives Barry's words space to shine unencumbered. ★★★★ Londonist ‘a play with great emotional power, that engages your compassion for human frailty and the power of forgiveness.’ Irish Mail on Sunday ‘Sebastian Barry weaves spells out of language, tugging you into his stories, making you lean into his world. Pitch perfect acting, profounding moving and deeply engrossing.’ What’s on Stage ‘You feel a writer luxuriating in the sheer seductiveness of words… wondrous acting’ The Arts Desk ‘beautifully-crafted drama… Jim Culleton’s carefully unfurling production has two cracking actors: David Ganly and Niall Buggy’ Time Out London |
‘one of the most powerful theatrical experiences since that last stage-closing contagion 412 years ago’
Mark Lawson, Standpoint Magazine ‘beautifully shaped, mesmerising and mysterious’ The New Yorker ‘fantastic…an inspiring play…masterful performances…imaginative set.’ ★★★★ Sunday Times ‘A masterpiece… heartfelt and absorbing’ ★★★★★ The Upcoming ‘You will definitely be thrilled by On Blueberry Hill.’ ★★★★★ London Living Large ‘a work of rich intimacy and sublime lyricism’ Sunday Telegraph ‘It’s hard to find a word that captures it adequately. ‘Superb’ will have to do.’ ★★★★ Irish Times ‘absolutely riveting…utterly unforgettable… powerful play…two astonishing performances…first class direction…just go and see it.’ ★★★★ TheArtsReview ‘Jim Culleton’s intricately calibrated production…compelling’ The Times ‘Phenomenal…a superb, devastating play…fine performances…triumphantly directed…not to be missed.’ Sunday Independent 'Beautifully pitched performances’ Financial Times ‘fantastic…outstanding’ RTE Arena ‘a charming production…finely crafted characters’ Phoenix ‘outstanding’ Sunday Business Post ‘ravishing… both performances are thrilling... is beautifully orchestrated by Jim Culleton’s direction..spectacular’ The Philly Enquirer ‘a pleasure to the ear… electric… gorgeously described… transcendent performances… marvelous’ Lighting and Sound America ‘Beautifully told, full of warm wit and language you want to luxuriate in. Brilliant.’ The Evening Standard |
'purely beautiful… pulsates with language so intense you can feel the sonic wave breaking on your chest… two incredible performances … The Dublin-based Fishamble company is only rarely in New York, and when they are, you’ve got to go. On whatever hill they’re on, you'll find a thrill.'
★★★★ Time Out New York ‘Barry’s subtle and aching dialogue… and Fishamble’s superb production, beautifully directed by Jim Culleton… Naill Buggy is his usual excellent… David Ganly is equally superb… this is a play of storytelling triumph’ ★★★★★ British Theatre ‘an absolute masterpiece…spellbinding and marvellous…one of the most transcendent experiences you can have in the theatre’ BBC Radio 4 '...extraordinary... mesmerising…the pair of powerhouse performances on display in this production will indeed provide a thrill, and then some.' ★★★★ NY Stage Review ‘This is truly timeless theatre; staggering performances, a captivating use of language that gives the play a pulse and rhythm that is totally absorbing.’ ★★★★★ Boyz 'Under Jim Culleton’s subtle direction, Buggy and Ganly give what are among the finest demonstrations of restrained, totally believable acting on the current New York stage.' ★★★★.5 Theatre Life ‘a mesmerizing Two-Hander… superbly directed…Don't miss the opportunity to experience a drama that deftly combines heartache and humor in a story that you will long remember… a riveting tale… Compelling… must be seen' Broadway World '...as close to small-scale theatrical perfection as you are ever likely to get... Ganly and Buggy deliver the kind of moving performances that take a beautifully written, poetic piece of writing and make it something haunting and quite extraordinary...' British Theatre Guide '...a tour de force... a riveting experience... Barry's writing is beautifully crafted... two superb actors...' Curtain Up 'compellingly lyrical… dynamic and engaging… beautifully written by one of Ireland's finest playwrights... On Blueberry Hill is sublime.' Time Square Chronicles ‘vivid, poetic… a simply wonderful piece… brilliantly conceived… David Ganly and Niall Buggy are marvellous… a terrific sense of theatrical composition… closure is inspired’ Woman Around Town |
Previous Dates
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2021 Virtual International Tour
3 - 10 Aug: THEATERS 59E59, New York 10 - 16 Aug: TRAVERSE, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2020 International Touring 5 - 15 March: TRAFALGAR STUDIOS, London (run cut short due to Covid-19) 2019 Irish and International Touring 6 Feb: HAWK'S WELL THEATRE, Sligo 8 - 9 Feb: WATERGATE THEATRE, Kilkenny 12-16 Feb: PAVILION THEATRE, Dún Laoghaire 18 Feb: TOWN HALL THEATRE, Galway 20-21 Feb: LIME TREE THEATRE, Limerick 23 Feb: GLÓR, Ennis 26 Feb: CORK OPERA HOUSE, Cork 28 Feb & 1 Mar: THEATRE ROYAL, Waterford |
2017 Irish and International Touring
27th September – 8th October: PAVILION THEATRE, Dún Laoghaire as part of Dublin Theatre Festival 11th – 12th October: CENTRE CULTUREL IRLANDAIS, Paris 24th October: MOUNTJOY PRISON, Dublin. Click HERE to read about this very special performance. |
Production Shots
By Pat Redmond
Meet the Team
Sebastian Barry
Playwright |
Sebastian Barry was born in Dublin in 1955. His novels and plays have won, among other awards, the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Prize, the Costa Book of the Year award, the Irish Book Awards Best Novel, the Independent Booksellers Prize and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. He also had two consecutive novels, A Long Long Way (2005) and The Secret Scripture (2008), shortlisted for the MAN Booker Prize. He lives in Wicklow with his wife and three children. Sebastian Barry is the 2018-2021 Irish Fiction Laureate.
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Jim Culleton
Director |
Jim Culleton is the artistic director of Fishamble, for which he has directed productions in Ireland, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US. His productions for Fishamble have won many Irish and international awards, including an Olivier Award for Silent by Pat Kinevane at Soho Theatre. He has also directed for the Abbey Theatre, Woodpecker/Gaiety, 7:84 (Scotland), Project, Amharclann de hÍde, Tinderbox, Passion Machine, the Ark, Second Age, RTÉ Radio 1, the Belgrade, TNL Canada, Dundee Rep, Draíocht, TCD, Frontline Defenders, Amnesty International, Fighting Words, CoisCéim/Crash Ensemble/GIAF, RTÉ lyric fm, APA and Vessel (Australia), Solas Nua and Kennedy Center (Washington DC), Odyssey (LA), and Irish Arts Center, Origin/1st Irish, 59E59 and IAC/Symphony Space Broadway (New York). Jim has taught for NYU, NUIM, GSA, Uversity, the Lir, Notre Dame, UM, Villanova, UMD, TCD and UCD.
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Niall Buggy
Christy |
Niall Buggy is one of the leading Irish actors of his generation who has worked extensively on the stage and screen in Ireland, the UK and the US. Some of his better known roles include: the title role in Brian Friel’s Uncle Vanya, for which he won Best Actor at The Irish Times Theatre Awards and for his role as Casimir in Aristocrats for which he won the Time Out Award, Obie Award in New York, Drama Desk Award and a Clarence Derwent Award. He also received the Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance in Dead Funny. His performance in Juno and the Paycock won him Best Actor in the TMA Awards. Most recent theatre includes: Furniture by Sonya Kelly (Druid Theatre),You Never Can Tell (The Abbey Theatre), St. Joan (Donmar Theatre, London), The Importance of Being Earnest (Harold Pinter Theatre) and Translations (Sheffield Crucible), The Hanging Gardens (Abbey Theatre) and A Whistle in the Dark with the Druid/Murphy season. His later work also includes The Invisible (Bush Theatre), Plough and the Stars (Lyric, London and The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin), Translations (Broadway), Penelope (St Ann’s Warehouse, Brooklyn), Haunted by Edna O Brien, and Beckett Trilogy (Jermyn St Theatre). Film appearances include: The Duel by Chekhov Mr. Turner/Mike Leigh, Mamma Mia, Casanova, The Butcher Boy, Alien 3 and The Playboys. Television credits include: My Mother and Other Strangers/BBC, Jack Taylor 3/Taylor Made Films, Inspector Lewis, Dalziel and Pascoe, Father Ted, The Bill and The Professionals.
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David Ganly
PJ |
A native of Dublin, David trained at The Samuel Beckett Centre, Trinity College.
Theatre includes: Girl from the North Country, Shakespeare in Love (Noël Coward); On Blueberry Hill (Fishamble); The Velveteen Rabbit (Unicorn); Once, Grease, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz (Olympia, Dublin); The Lonesome West (Tron, Glasgow); The Plough and the Stars (Abbey, Dublin/Irish Tour/US Tour);Shadow of a Gunman (Abbey, Dublin/Lyric, Belfast); The Threepenny Opera, The Weir (Gate, Dublin); King Lear (Theatre Royal, Bath); Drum Belly, Uncle Vanya, The Cavalcaders, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, Philadelphia, Here I Come! (Abbey, Dublin); Cinderella (Lyric Hammersmith); Macbeth (Sheffield); Of Mice and Men (Watermill, Newbury); The Wizard of Oz (Palladium); Beauty Queen of Leenane – OFFIE nomination for Best Actor (Young Vic); Chicago (Cambridge Theatre); The Wizard of Oz (WYP); The Field, John Bull’s Other Island, The Cavalcaders (Tricycle); Bedtime Story/The End of the Beginning (Young Vic/Union); Translations (NT); Hamlet, The Weir, Waiting for Godot (Northampton); Americans, The Quare Fellow (Tricycle/UK Tour); The Full Monty (Prince of Wales); The Lonesome West (Druid Theatre/Royal Court/Sydney Festival/Lyceum, NY); Russian Tales, The Cavalcaders (Meridian Theatre Company); The Talented Mr Ripley (Watford); Amphibians (YMCA, Wexford); Dancing at Lughnasa (Salisbury Playhouse); Shoot the Crow, Summerhouse (Druid Theatre);The Merchant of Venice (Lyric, Belfast); The Risen People, The Snow Queen (Gaiety, Dublin); The Plough and the Stars (Second Age); Sexual Perversity in Chicago (TCD); Extremities (Andrew’s Lane); Carousel (Tivoli); Lunch with me Bloom (Dublin Castle); F! (Dublin Festival/Belfast Festival). Film includes: Sunset Song; Body of Lies; Hippie Hippie Shake; Space Truckers. Television includes: Casualty; Citizen Charlie; Dorothy Mills; Widow’s Peak;Upwardly Mobile; Doctors. |
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Sabine Dargent
Set & Costume Design |
Sabine Dargent has won two Irish Times Best Set Design Awards and been nominated for two others. She is a freelance Set and Costume Designer, working mostly in theatre, with various directors and companies. Sabine has designed a few times for Jim Culleton and Fishamble Theatre Company which she always enjoys! As well as other shows for Jim, including Monged, Strandline, Tiny Plays for Ireland 1 & 2, and Spinning, she designed set and costumes for The Pride of Parnell Street, also written by Sebastian Barry, and designed by the same team. Sabine works with Mikel Murfi very often, also for Michael Keegan Dolan, Conall Morrison, Enda Walsh, Paul Mc Enaney, Selina Cartmell, and a lot of others in Ireland and abroad. Some productions she has designed have been very successful and toured for a long time, such as Swan Lake, The Walworth Farce, Rian, The Pride of Parnell Street… She loves theatre, dance, and physical theatre, but has also designed for exhibitions, films, and has designed big events, such as the GAA 2016 celebration in Croke Park, and street theatre, such as the St Patrick’s Dublin Parade sections City Fusion and Brighter, taking care of the visuals for costumes, floats, props, and make up, for about 200 participants. Her website is www.sabinedargent.com
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Mark Galione
Lighting Design |
Mark Galione’s designs in Ireland include works for Irish Modern Dance Theatre, CoisCéim, Dance Theatre of Ireland, The Peacock, Fíbín, Hands Turn, Classic Stage Ireland, Barabbas, Vesuvius, The Derry Playhouse, The Ark, Peer to Peer, Gonzo, Theatre Lovett, Second Age Theatre Company, Barnstorm, Riot and I’m Your Man for THISISPOPBABY and Fishamble: The New Play Company most recently Swing and Inside The GPO. Recent TV includes Jack Lukeman 27 Club, All Ireland Schools Talent Search, TG4 – Country Music Legends and The All Porter Christmas Show RTE2. Mark is a staff Lighting Designer at High Res Lighting.
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Denis Clohessy
Sound Design |
Denis Clohessy has previously worked with Fishamble, including the productions The Pride of Parnell Street, Silent, Underneath, Spinning, Mainstream and Strandline. He has also produced work for theatre and dance with The Abbey Theatre, The Gate Theatre, Rough Magic, Corn Exchange, Junk Ensemble and many others. He won the Irish Times theatre award for Best Design Sound in 2011 for Rough Magic’s Sodome, My Love, he was a nominee in 2015 (for Junk Ensemble’s ‘It Folds), was an associate artist with the Abbey in 2008 and was a participant on Rough Magic’s ADVANCE programme in 2012. His composition work for Film and Television includes the films Older than Ireland (Snack box Films), The Irish Pub (Atom Films), His and Hers (Venom Film), The Land of the Enlightened (Savage Film), In View (Underground Cinema), The Reluctant Revolutionary (Underground Films) and the television series Limits of Liberty (South Wind Blows) performed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
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