A stellar cast of Ireland’s greatest theatre talent will return to the Irish stage this summer when they join forces at the Galway Arts Festival.

Internationally acclaimed actors Cillian Murphy and Stephen Rea will appear in the world premiere of a major new play ‘Ballyturk’ by award-winning playright Enda Walsh.

It marks Walsh’s first new play in four years and the first since he won a Tony Award for the Broadway musical ‘Once’.

That play is currently running in New York, London’s West End and on a major US tour.

The production will also reunite the creative team behind one of the festival’s biggest hits – ‘Misterman’, which performed to sell out audiences in 2011 before a hugely successful tour in London and New York.

That internationally-acclaimed hit play, co-produced by Landmark Productions and Galway Arts Festival, starred Cillian Murphy in a sensational solo performance which saw him win a Drama Desk award.

‘Ballyturk’, which marks the second co-production between Landmark and the Festival, will see his return to the Irish stage where he will star alongside Walsh’s long-time collaborator Mikel Murfi and renowned actor and Tony nominee Stephen Rea.

It will mark Murphy’s third collaboration with Walsh following on from ‘Misterman’ and ‘Disco Pigs’.

Speaking from London this week, Mr Walsh said; “I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity of reuniting with friends and making this new piece, ‘Ballyturk’, at this Summer’s Galway Arts Festival. Two years in its dreaming and making, come July it will be a very exciting moment for all of us to share this production with the Festival audience.”

Reuniting the stellar creative team that was responsible for ‘Misterman’, Walsh’s latest play ‘Ballyturk’ will be directed by the playwright, with sets and costumes designed by Jamie Vartan and lighting by Adam Silverman. Sound will be designed by Helen Atkinson, with original music composed by Teho Teardo

Described as “Gut-wrenchingly funny and achingly sad”, ‘Ballyturk’ will run at the Black Box Theatre in Galway from July 10 to 27. It’s world premiere will coincide with the opening night of this year’s Festival.

Booking for the play opens today at www.galwayartsfestival.com or www.tht.ie.

From the Irish Independent – 07.03.14