Druid announces Druid Debuts Online

This summer, Druid Debuts, the company’s annual rehearsed reading series, will be a live online experience featuring four new plays.

In 2019, Druid received over 400 scripts via the New Writing scheme. Four plays will make their debut every Thursday 2 - 23 July at 7.30pm via Zoom.

How’s Life by Nina Mitrović, translated by Nina Mitrović and Darren Tighe, directed by Garry Hynes, Thursday 2 July 7.30pm. Set in a care home, How’s life is a story of love and friendship, fears and regrets, life and death. Four people fight loneliness. They try to connect. And in doing so they ask how’s life? Are you living it or have you already given up?

Wall by Edward Lee, directed by Marc Atkinson Borrull, Thursday 9 July 7.30pm. In a destroyed world, two men defend a crumbling city from an enemy they have never seen. But nothing is as it seems, not the city they live in, not the unseen enemy, not even themselves.

The Mouth of the Birch by Shane Mac an Bhaird, directed by Emily Foran, Thursday 16 July 7.30pm. Two siblings have inherited a closed-down travel agency in the small Monaghan town of Beithe. In a desperate attempt to hold their world together, they invite fellow outsiders from the town to go on a 'Holiday of the Imagination' in the run-down shop. The play looks at the chasm of belonging that has opened in the heart of a rural Ireland, a much changed, much fantasised landscape of the dreaming human spirit.

An Honest Woman by Erica Murray, directed by Sara Joyce, Thursday 23 July 7.30pm. Dylan has moved back home to Ireland to live with his parents, Fran and Dennis, and he’s brought his new fiancée, Kelly, with him. Fran and Dennis promise to give Kelly a proper Irish welcome. But they are so happy to have Dylan home that they will do anything they can to keep him there…

Playwrights are given professional support, a director, a cast and a short rehearsal period to develop their script. This year, the writer, director and cast will virtually meet and rehearse before presenting the reading to an audience via Zoom. The rehearsed readings are live-streamed and not pre-recorded. After each reading, audience feedback is invited as a means of further development.

Tickets are on sale now and cost €5 for each reading or €15 for all four readings. Patrons will receive an email with log in details before the performance. There is limited availability so early booking is advised.

If you are not in the position to purchase a ticket but would like to register, get in touch via info@druid.ie.

The 2020 New Writing submission window for Druid Debuts will open at 12 noon (GMT) Monday 22 June and will close 12 noon (GMT) Friday 31 July.

Druid Debuts Online is supported by Mazars.