Fiachra O Dubhghaill – Actor

A proud Corkonian, Fiachra completed the MA in Drama and Theatre Studies in NUIG in 2006 after which he acted in Shona McCarthy’s one act play Mary Hegarty’s Last Dance. In November 2010 he was nominated for the Best Actor Award in Cork Writers Week for his portrayal of JJ in Siobhán Donnellan’s Chasing Butterflies.  He played the same role in the radio play recorded in August 2011. In 2009 he performed with the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York for the very successful Yeats Project, directed by George Heslin of Origin Theatre in April 2009, in which all 26 of Yeats’ plays were performed in one month.  He also performed in readings of Riders to the Sea and In the Shadow of the Glen for the Irish Rep’s Synge Centenary celebrations in New York’s Lincoln Centre, directed by Charlotte Moore.

Previous leading roles include multiple roles in Married to the Sea, Paul in Reptilian (both Dragonfly), Dame Gorgeous Gloria in Snow White and the Seven Delinquents (Performing Arts School Galway), multiple roles in An Triail (Fíbín), Julian Marsh in 42nd Street (Galway Musical Society), the Sheriff in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Encore) and Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music (Twin Productions). TV credits: Currently playing Andrew O’Dea in Ros na Rún, Niall O Broin in Corp agus Anam  (Clapsholas Ceilteach for TG4) and Turas Teanga (RTÉ). His voice over work includes Stan’s Dad in South Park for TG4.

Fiachra also has an interest in television presenting and while in New York he completed a course in on-camera reporting, interviewing and anchoring in New York University under the stewardship of Nancy Reardon.  He is a fluent Irish speaker and qualified primary school teacher.  In 2006/2007 he worked with the Primary Curriculum Support Programme in providing training to teachers in the new drama curriculum for primary schools.

What they said…

“There’s a masterful performance from Fiachra Ó Dubhghaill who, with Rory Bremner-style genius takes control of eight characters.” THE LIST (EDINBURGH)

“Fiachra Ó Dubhghaill is excellent as a panoply of characters, all superbly differentiated…”  BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE

“…he (Ó Dubhghaill) excels at transforming himself with real facility… he brings instant authenticity to each of his characters.” CAHIR O’DOHERTY, IRISH VOICE, NEW YORK

“Fiachra Ó Dubhghaill steals the show with his multi-role-switching performance and his haunting singing voice.” SARA KEATING, SUNDAY BUSINESS POST

Shona McCarthy – Writer/Director

Shona completed the MA in Drama and Theatre Studies at NUI Galway in 2006.  Reptilian is her second full-length play. Her first play, Married to the Sea, was staged at the New York and Dublin Fringe Festivals in 2007, the Edinburgh Fringe@ the Assembly Rooms in 2008, and toured nationwide. Shona is a participant in the Abbey Theatre’s New Playwrights Programme for 2009, and is also is a script-writer for RTE’s Fair City.

What they said…

“McCarthy’s words are poetic without being sentimental, evocative without being nostalgic.” -  HARVEY O’BRIEN, IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE

“A gem of a play…captivating throughout” -  THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE

“Dragonfly’s new play is one of the most genuinely lyrical and evocative new plays to be unveiled by an Irish theater company in years…Married to the Sea announces them as the most interesting theater company to have emerged in Ireland in decades.” – CAHIR O’DOHERTY, THE IRISH VOICE, NEW YORK

“****, Married to the Sea is a brilliant affirmation of the power of good story simply told.”  THE SUNDAY BUSINESS POST

“Another kind of intensity…as black as night…McCarthy’s writing has wild imagining and clever execution.” – EMER O KELLY, THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

Siobhán Donnellan – Actor/Writer

A native of Clare, Siobhán is a founder member of Dragonfly Theatre, Galway.  Having graduated from GMIT in 2000 with a Higher Diploma in Film & TV Studies, she undertook a Masters in Drama & Theatre Studies, NUI Galway graduating in 2006.

In 2007 she won the Outstanding Actor Award in the New York International Fringe Festival for her role in Dragonfly’s debut play Married to the Sea, which subsequently toured Edinburgh and Dublin Fringe Festivals as well as an extensive Irish tour in 2008 which included the Galway Arts Festival.

In 2009 she was accepted into the Postgraduate Diploma in Intensive Performance Training at the Centre of Excellence, Queens University, Belfast where she performed in a number of shows including How to Beat Captain Najork which featured as part of the Belfast Children’s Festival.

She subsequently co-wrote and performed in her debut play as a writer entitled For the Birds which was premiered at Cherry Lane Theatre, Greenwich Village as part of the New York Fringe Festival 2010.

In November 2010 her first one-act play Chasing Butterflies was shortlisted for the Cork Arts Theatre Writers Week Award where the production won three awards including Best Female Actor for Siobhán. She subsequently adapted it for radio when it was indepently produced having received funding under the BAI Sound and Vision Scheme. It was broadcast in November 2011. Her new one-act play In the Garden received its premiere at the Galway Theatre Festival 2011.

What they said…

‘Chasing Butterflies, introduces a brave and challenging new voice in Irish playwriting’ IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE

“…the show belongs to Donnellan’s pitch perfect performance” THE IRISH TIMES

“…an exquisitely generous central performance from Siobhán Donnellan”  THE SCOTSMAN, EDINBURGH FRINGE

“(Donnellan) gives a remarkable bravura performance” IRISH VOICE, NEW YORK

“a fascinating actress to watch” OFFOFFONLINE.COM

“Donnellan gets the balance just right” NYTHEATRE.COM

“Donnellan holds the audience rapt …with her marvellously energetic performance” IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE

“Donnellan’s might as a writer lies in her articulation of the dalliances of temporary lives, some to be celebrated and others not, and the devastating result of when such life is snatched away.” CHRIS MACCORMACK www.musingsinintermissions.blogspot.com/