Spinning

By Deirdre Kinahan

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What does it take to forgive the unforgivable?

In small town Ireland, father-of-one Conor is desperate to hold onto a life that is disintegrating before his eyes. Susan is a mother searching for reason in the darkness of her teenage daughter’s killing.

A contemporary tragedy comes to light when they finally meet.
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What does it feel like to lose everything? To explain? To forgive?

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Created By

Written by Deirdre Kinahan
Directed by Jim Culleton
Set Design by Sabine Dargent
Lighting Design by Kevin Smith
Costume Design by Leonore McDonagh
Sound Design by Denis Clohessy
Produced by Marketa Dowling
Dramaturgy by Gavin Kostick

Cast

Fiona Bell
Caitriona Ennis
Janet Moran
​Karl Shiels

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Performances

2014
Oct 1 – 12: Dublin Theatre Festival, Smock Alley Theatre

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Reviews

'unflinching honesty…a poignant and powerful production…Kinahan’s excellent script is a masterclass in craftsmanship…riveting throughout…Caitriona Ennis [was] an absolute revelation…Culleton’s masterful direction…yet another triumphant success deserving of high acclaim…Spinning brings together Fishamble’s holy trinity: an excellent script, stunning performances and top class direction. Unmissable’
Examiner.com

‘[Kinahan] captures the claustrophobia not only of small town society , but also of family life…draws the attention and stirs the emotions…the overlapping storylines interweave seamlessly…the performances are very fine too’
The Irish Times

‘strong performances…Karl Shiels brings a forceful exactness to his portrait…Fiona Bell is viscerally intense…a stylishly functional set…first-class sound and lighting…imaginative directing’
The Irish Independent

‘Janet Moran effortlessly portrays a mixture of girlish flirting, frustrated impotence and feminine independence…emotionally absorbing…considerable conviction’
Irish Mail on Sunday

‘set design is richly dark and atmospheric…all of the actors deliver fine performances…an original multi-layered drama that sees past the black and white’ 
Irish Daily Mail

‘skilfully structured…terrific’
Sunday Times

‘truly accomplished, nuanced performance…delightful…excellently directed’
Sunday Independent

‘brilliantly succinct scenes…beautifully warm and realistic portraits…remarkably fluid…the power of the script is matched by the strength of the cast…wonderfully versatile’
Sunday Business Post

‘All four performances are nuanced, deliberate, and compelling…outstanding…an intense and perfectly-timed script, which the four actors execute almost flawlessly, Spinning is a must-see performance that is incredibly relevant to our nation and society’
The Public Reviews

‘Fishamble continue to churn out some of the country’s most heartfelt contemporary plays, and Spinning by Deirdre Kinahan as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival is no exception…a strong cast…the tension and emotion in the room is palpable right from the get-go…heartbreakingly honest performance…a beautiful piece of writing…leaves one feeling both absolutely elated and heartbroken after exposure to such honesty.’
​​Meg.ie

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