Two Weekends of New Irish Theatre
In The Shadow or in The Shelter Festival Comes to Ealing
Just Above Dogs
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A powerful drama from writer Anne Curtis, comes to the West London Trade Union Club in Acton for two nights only (4th & 5th November).
Just Above Dogs examines the lives and experiences of the generations of Irish men who arrived in London seeking employment in the building trade.
1971, North London. Two young Irish brothers, Mikey and Dec, arrive in Camden on the promise of a 'start' in the building trade. Forty years on and estranged from each other, one brother lives in a hostel for the homeless while the other is a wealthy building contractor. What happened to these two men in the intervening years?
The performances are part of the inaugural In The Shadow or in the Shelter Festival, a London wide festival of new plays about the Irish in London.
The festival has been touring theatres in Kentish Town and Merton, south London.
Areas which, like Ealing, have seen a high intake of Irish migrants over the past decades. Writer-and director Anne Curtis said: "Migration is a fundamental part of the Irish story. It has also played a major role in shaping London . "It was really important for us that we brought these plays to those parts of London like Acton and Ealing where so many Irish men and women found a home."
Iinformation and background on Just Above Dogs
Traitors, Cads & Cowards,
From playwright Martin McNamara, comes to the West London Trades Union Club in Acton for the Armistice weekend (Friday, 11th & Saturday, 12th November).
1916. Military wing of Wandsworth Prison. Liam, an Irish volunteer from the Easter Rising in Dublin, has been brought over to London for questioning.
He's bunked in with Alfred, a shell-shocked veteran of the trenches up on desertion charges. His other cell mate is Henry, a conscientious objector court martialed for refusing his call up papers.
Can three very different 'Traitors to the King' find common ground?
Martin McNamara says: "Hopefully Traitors has something to say about the savagery of conflict and its effects on the often forgotten foot soldiers. It's also about how the people labelled cowards and traitors can be the bravest and noblest because they will only fight for what they truly believe."
Traitors, Cads & Cowards, 8pm, Friday, 11 November & Saturday, 12 November.
West London Trade Union Club, 33-35 High St, London W3 6ND
Tickets:£10 (£8 concs)
For information on the festival: www.irishinlondontheatre.co.uk
2 November 2016
