THE EMPTY NEST

A hilarious piece of theatre that encompasses the way many Irish couples live today.

The Empty Nest is written by emerging Irish play- wright Oisín Flores Sweeney, whose short play A Compromising Position delighted audiences at Cork Arts Theatre last year as part of the ‘10 x 10 Minute Theatre Event’. Directed by Geoff Gould, It stars Irish Times Theatre Award nominee Seamus O’Rourke (Lakelands), an established actor and playwright and Joan Sheehy, actor and director whose screen credits include The Field, The Boxer, Father Ted and most recently, An Cailín Ciúin.

Tony and Sheila are watching television. Their children are grown and their grandchildren are invading their lives. They haven’t had sex in forever and all that’s on the television is sex. Oisín Flores Sweeney’s first play is a hilarious piece of theatre that encompasses the way many Irish couples live today.

Reviews

★★★★ ‘This wonderful little comedy is a perfect match of humour and heart, and definitely not just for empty-nesters.’  – David Keane, The Reviews Hub

★★★★ ‘The Empty Nest proves to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience.’ – Chris O’Rourke, The Arts Review

Cast

Seamus O’Rourke is a writer, director and actor and an independent producer with his own company ‘Big Guerilla Productions’. As a writer, his plays include ‘Ride On’ (Liven’ Dread 2011) ‘dig’, ‘Down’ and ‘The Trappe Family’ (Corn Mill Theatre) ‘The Halfway House Hotel’ and ‘Stale Mate’ (Canal Studio-Backstage Theatre) ‘For Club and County’ (Moth Productions) ‘dig’, ‘Victor’s Dung’ and ‘My Aunt Bee’ (Big Guerilla Productions) and his three One-Man-Shows, ‘The Sand Park’, ‘Padraig Potts’ Guide to Walking’ and ‘Indigestion’ (Big Guerilla Productions).

As a director, he has directed with The Corn Mill Theatre, Back- stage Theatre, Moth Productions and his own company, ‘Big Guerilla Productions. Apart from his own material, those plays include ‘The Cavalcaders’ and ‘A Handful of Stars’ by Billy Roche‘,’Stolen Child’ by Bairbre Ní Chaoimh and Yvonne Quinn, ‘The Pitch’ by Shane Connaughton, ‘Arrah Na Pogue’ by Dion Boucicault, ‘The Quare Land’ ,‘Danger Money’ and ‘The Cavan Curse’ by John McManus.

Joan Sheehy appears as Úna in the Irish language feature film AN CAILÍN CIÚN (THE QUIET GIRL), directed by Colm Bairéad. Winner of the Grand Prix Award at the Berlinale 2022 and shortlisted for an Oscar as Best International Feature Film. She was recently seen on television in HARRY WILD, as Marie Doherty on Acorn TV and appeared as Síobhan in AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT on Hallmark. Recent stage credits include THE FIRST CHILD, directed by Enda Walsh and produced by Anne Clarke for Landmark Productions, staged at the GIAF 2022. Joan played Trish in RED ARMY, directed by Pat Kiernan for Lime Tree Theatre.

Dates & Venues

Sat January 27th 2024 – 8:00 pm
Kill Community Centre
Tickets at door

Sun January 28th 2024 – 8:00 pm
The Palace Theatre, Fermoy
Tickets at door