Perth Theatre hosts a three date run of Lyric Theatre Belfast’s production The Absence of Women before it travels to London’s prestigious Tricycle Theatre for a month-long residency.

Horsecross Arts creative director for theatre Rachel O’Riordan directs the Owen McCafferty play which runs for two weeks in the Lyric Theatre before it arrives in Perth from Tuesday 6 to Thursday 8 September.

Described as a “mini masterpiece” (Culture NI), The Absence of Women centres on Gerry and Iggy, two labourers from Belfast who are facing the end of their lives talking of the present and thinking of the past. They argue about who has the biggest liver, the names of tube stations and whether they should go back to Belfast or not. This play is about life and its endless possibilities, missed opportunities and how one man’s choice, in one instant, can alter the path of his life forever.  The play premiered by the Lyric to critical acclaim in February 2010.

Drama fans won’t be disappointed with this poignant play by Owen McCafferty, who also wrote Mojo Mickybo, Scenes from the Big Picture, Antigone, Days of Wine and Roses and Shoot the Crow.

The Absence of Women is the first play directed by Rachel O’Riordan to hit the Perth Theatre stage.  Twelfth Night at the end of September is the opening production in Rachel’s first theatre subscription season as creative director, followed by National Theatre of Scotland’s Men Should Weep in November, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me in February and Moonlight and Magnolias in March.

Rachel’s previous directing credits include The Absence of Women and Much Ado About Nothing; she was nominated for Best Director in the TMA Awards for both productions. Rachel has a PhD on Shakespeare in Performance from the University of Ulster and in 2010 won Best Director for Absolution in the First Irish Theatre Festival Awards in New York.

Peter Gowan and Ciaran McIntyre play leading characters Gerry and Iggy and Alice O’Connell plays Dotty.

Having played Dotty in the original production, Alice is delighted to be back. She commented after the first reading of the play on day one of rehearsals:

“I enjoyed listening to Peter, Ciaran and Francis. It’s fascinating to hear how Owen’s wonderful script dictates the characters and rhythm despite it being new actors bringing his words to life.”

Peter Gowen, who plays Gerry, has a prolific stage career and he has worked with the Abbey Theatre, Druid Theatre, National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Court in plays such as Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme; Juno and the Paycock; Someone to Watch Over Me; A Doll’s House and The Lieutenant of Inismore.

Ciaran McIntyre plays Iggy. His credits include Owen McCafferty’s play Shoot The Crow for Prime Cut Productions, work for companies such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Globe Theatre, Gate Theatre and the Bristol Old Vic in plays like Translations; The Comedy of Errors; The Quare Fellow; Waiting for Godot and The Playboy of the Western World.

Francis Mezza makes his professional stage debut in The Absence of Women.  The rising star, who is a final year Drama student, has already notched up an award in 2011 for Best Ensemble Award at the Irish Student Drama Association Festival.

The Absence of Women is the first play staged in the newly refurbished Lyric Theatre to go on tour.

The Lyric Theatre’s artistic director, Richard Croxford commented:

“Employing local actors, writers, directors and designers, from first rehearsal to final curtain, the shows we create are truly indigenous products of Northern Ireland. And a very important part of the new Lyric Theatre’s strategy is to tour as widely as possible, to give audiences outside Northern Ireland an insight into our culture and to the work of the Lyric.”

Owen McCafferty commented:

“It is essential that theatres like the Tricycle continue to support Irish Theatre. In order for the industry to survive, theatre on this small island needs to travel. This is important for both financial and artistic reasons. I can’t think of a worse situation than being skint and talking to yourself.”

The Absence of Women is in Perth Theatre from 6 to 8 September.  For tickets and info contact Horsecross Arts Box Office on 01738 621031, visit www.horsecross.co.uk.

Source: Horsecross