Over 80 years since its world premiere at the Abbey, this daring meditation on freedom, marriage, duty, and pride in the life of a young woman returns to the Abbey stage.
The plays centres round the titular character Katie Roche, who is young, impulsive and illegitimate. When she rushes into a marriage with a man twice her age, she struggles to conform. Katie is a great woman trying to be good. She is caught between the appeal of material comfort and social standing she finds with her husband and her attraction to the young Michael. Katie must define her own desires before the demands of others consume her entirely.
Fresh from a resoundingly successful run of 'Taming of the Shrew' at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, the production marks Irish director Caroline Byrne’s directorial debut at the Abbey Theatre.
The production features television and film actress Caoilfhionn Dunne who has received critical acclaim for recent roles in the film In View and on television as Lizzie on Love/Hate.
Caoilfhionn made her Abbey debut in 2009 and has turned in several memorable performances, most recently as Regan in the 2013 production of King Lear. Caoilfhionn will be joined by renowned actors Sean Campion and Donal O’Kelly, along with Abbey newcomers Kevin Creedon, Dylan Kennedy and Siobhan McSweeney.
Graham McLaren and Neil Murray, Directors of the Abbey Theatre are especially excited to see Teresa Deevy’s work back at the Abbey. The foremost female playwright of her time, Deevy fell out of favour in the latter half of her career as her work continued to challenge the status quo of women’s place in society.
They said, “The Abbey Theatre is committed to elevating the work of women in Irish theatre. Katie Roche is a brilliant play from the Irish canon. Welcoming Teresa’s work back to our stage is just one way we hope to correct the issues of gender inequality that we see in our own society today.”
Katie Roche will be the second show in the Abbey’s First Free Preview series, where members of the public are invited to queue for a free ticket to the first preview on 26 August. Katie Roche will premiere on 28 August. Tickets are available at abbeytheatre.ie.