[Bronagh Lagan]
Portia Coughlan
OLD RED LION, 2014
PORTIA COUGHLAN
28th April – 23rd May 2015 – Old Red Lion Theatre
A ferocious, haunting and beautiful Irish tale by Marina Carr writer of By The Bog of Cats, The Mai and Ullaloo.
Portia Coughlan lives in a monstrous Limbo, haunted by a yearning for her spectral twin brother lying at the bottom of the Belmont river, unable to find any love for her wealthy husband and children, seeking solace in soulless affairs, deeply afraid of what she might do…
‘Portia coughlan packs a hell of a punch. It hurts to look at it. But it has to be seen.’ Irish Independent
CREATIVES
DIRECTOR- Bronagh Lagan
DESIGNER- Nik Corrall
LIGHTING DESIGNED- Derek Anderson
SOUND DESIGN- Eamonn O'Dwyer
PRODUCER- Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment
CAST
PORTIA COUGHLAN– Susan Stanley
RAPHAEL COUGHLAN – Ben Mulhern
DAMUS HALLION– Alan Devally
FINTAN GOOLAN– Conan Sweeney
STACIA DOYLE – Karen Cogan
BLAIZE– Anne Kent
MAGGI MAY DOORLEY– Veronica Quilligan
SENCIL DOORLEY– James Holmes
MARIANNE – Susan Cummins
SLY – Chris Dunne
GABRIEL – Keith Ramsay
REVIEWS
“The wonderful direction by Bronagh Lagan is a source of perpetual wonder.”
“The inventive staging, the lighting and the dark ambience aid and assist the narrative with rampant ingenuity.”
“The dialogue and framing gradually evokes a Mike Leigh feel”
“the denouement offers a gut punch, delivered with a stunning force by a consummate cast, that would knock out the hardiest of souls.”
BARGIN THEATRELAND
“The haunting collisions of past, present and future are expertly caught in Lagan’s tender, delicate production”
“The cast bring a fully inhabited sense of life to every single character”
“A poignant, powerful production of an overlooked play that returns it to London”
THE STAGE
★★★★
“Gothic, contemporary, painful and genuinely really darkly funny. This is a play that is ready for a larger stage and larger audience – but this is the space to see it – Bronagh Lagan’s production fills every inch of the room, it’s a truly full on piece of theatre – in the best possible way.”
“There’s an energy to the writing, performances and direction that means you can’t look away. The cast are outstanding”
LONDON THEATRE1
★★★★
“Director Bronagh Lagan turns the small space at the Old Red Lion into a cauldron..”
“consistently fine acting from an outstanding company makes this a production to savour…”
PUBLIC REVIEWS
★★★★
“Quite how Marina Carr’s Portia Coughlan hasn’t been seen here since its 1996 debut seems scarcely credible, such is the power of Bronagh Logan’s revival for Aria Entertainment at the Old Red Lion”
“Hauntingly effective and thought-provoking too, this is an exceptionally well-judged revival.”
THERE OUGHT TO BE CLOWNS
“...wonderfully choreographed by director Bronagh Lagan whose dream is being fulfilled by the production of this haunting drama.”
“With the passionate impact of Greek drama this is a play to be seen.”
REMOTE GOAT
★★★★
IRISH POST ARTICLE
AWARD NOMINATIONS
Best Director by Off West End Awards 2015
Best Actress by Off West End Awards 2015
Best Supporting Actor by Off West End Awards 2015
Best Supporting Actor by Off West End Awards 2015