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Premiere of The Wrens by Dan Colley

An odd collection of tricksters live in the gorse bushes at the edge of the town. They’re best left alone, the townsfolk say. We’ve nothing to do with them. What they don’t say is; except the odd healing spell, love cure, hair-cut, or to burn them out of their nests once a year. This magic-realist piece for audiences aged 8+ is a poignant, funny, and wildly speculative interpretation of history and myths.

This new production by our artist-in-residence Dan Colley and his brilliant cast and creative team is the third work by Dan and his collaborators to have its first outing on the Riverbank stage, following on from A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings (touring to New York this week) and Lost Lear (which premiered in 2022).

The premiere took place on Saturday 22 April. Dan Colley and company had previewed to a smaller, more intimate audience earlier that afternoon where they received a standing ovation and a full house for the 7pm performance, with audience members who travelled to Kildare from across the country.

Below are some photos from the 7pm event by photographer Kelly Hamilton!

The Wrens by Dan Colley and the company was co-commissioned by Draíocht and co-produced by Riverbank Arts Centre, supported both by Fishamble’s New Play Clinic and The Ark; funded by the Arts Council of Ireland.

Credits
Written by Dan Colley, with Osaro Azama, Venetia Bowe, Karen McCartney & Maeve Stone
Music by Maeve Stone
Directed by Dan Colley
Produced by Matthew Smyth
Performed by Osaro Azams
Venetia Bowe Karen McCartney
Set and Costume Design Molly O’Cathain
Sound Design Alma Kelliher
Lighting Design Suzie Cummins
Dramaturg Amanda Piesse
Costume Supervisor/ Assistant Costume Designer  Saoirse O’Shea
Hair and Makeup Design Michelle Ruane
Stage Manager Evie McGuinness
Assistant Stage Manager Sarah Purcell
Chief LX Adrian Moylan
Production Manager Eoin Kilkenny
Graphic Design Sarah Moloney