Druid presents Three Short Comedies at Roscommon Arts Centre

Druid have announced that Three Short Comedies by Seán O’Casey will play at Roscommon Arts Centre on Friday, February 7th and Saturday, February 8th as part of a national tour.

Three Short Comedies features three hilarious one-act plays by the great Irish playwright, Seán O’Casey. Set in a post office, A Pound on Demand (1939) is the tale of Jerry and Sammy who badly need a quick injection of cash to continue their night on the town. In Bedtime Story (1951), poor John Jo Mulligan learns the hard way that inviting members of the opposite sex to Miss Mossie's lodging house comes with serious consequences. All hell breaks loose in The End of the Beginning (1937) when Darry Berrill and his wife Lizzie agree to swap their household roles - and that's before Darry's clumsy friend Barry arrives.

These short tales of misadventure will be directed by Ballaghaderreen native Garry Hynes and performed by a cast of six including Druid ensemble members Marie Mullen, Rory Nolan and Marty Rea, alongside Venetia Bowe, Caitríona Ennis and Liam Heslin.

This new tour continues Druid’s fruitful relationship with the works of Seán O’Casey. They previously toured these classic, rip-roaring one-act plays in 2021 to great acclaim.

Since 1975, Druid have been criss-crossing the country to bring world-class theatre to audiences in their own communities. This upcoming national tour marks the beginning of their 50th anniversary programme in 2025.

Ballaghaderreen natibe Garry Hynes, director of Three Short Comedies and Druid’s Artistic Director explained that “touring around the country is the lifeblood of Druid so it feels absolutely right for us to begin our 50th year with a national tour, and to be touring with plays by the great Seán O’Casey makes it even better. These three one-act plays are full of farce, biting satire and joyful theatre-craft, performed by a cast of six actors including three members of the much loved Druid Ensemble.” Three Short Comedies will be produced in Druid’s home city of Galway, with costumes created at the company’s Nuns’ Island Costume Department and sets constructed in its Ballybane Set Workshop, in line with Druid’s commitments to sustainability and local employment.