April 26, 2019
Welcome to Inis Nua’s 16th season! Thanks for joining us as we share with you some of the most exciting plays from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. Despite coming from different cultures across an ocean, these playwrights remind us that deeply human stories are universal. In a world that often seems chaotic, we offer three mainstage plays, a Pop-Up Play in a Pub, and a reading series—each play touches on finding the humanity in ourselves and others.
The Night Alive by Conor McPherson
October 9-27
From Ireland
Philadelphia Premiere
Tommy is barely scraping by—he lives in a filthy studio apartment and survives on odd jobs around Dublin. But when he rescues a young woman from her abusive boyfriend, Tommy’s dilapidated home becomes a safe haven from her violent past. And the tenuous friendship they build alters their lives forever. A delicate and humane play from one of Ireland’s most widely produced playwrights. Directed by Tom Reing.
A Hundred Words For Snow by Tatty Hennessy
February 5-23
From England
American Premiere
When 15-year-old Rory’s geography teacher father dies suddenly, she decides to pursue his lifelong dream and journey to the North Pole. Following the route he planned and the advice of the great explorers before her, Rory packs a rucksack and her father’s ashes for a journey of love, loss, and endless snow. A solo show from an exciting new voice in British theatre. Directed by Claire Moyer.
Folk by Tom Wells
April 22-May 10 Canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
From England
Philadelphia Premiere
Winnie is a middle-aged Irish nun with a foul mouth and a penchant for Guinness. Stephen is a lonely man caring for his father. And Kayleigh is a pregnant teen on her own. In their small town in the north of England there’s not much room for misfits, but these three loners forge a deep connection through their love of folk music. A warmhearted play with songs. Directed by Claire Moyer.
Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons by Sam Steiner
May 26, 27, 28; June 2, 3, 4 Canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
From England
Philadelphia Premiere
In the not-too-distant future Hush Laws have been instated, limiting each individual to only 140 words per day. How do lawyer Bernadette and musician Oliver navigate the highs and lows of their romance without the words to express how they really feel? And are the laws themselves really censorship when you can say anything you like…concisely? Directed by Tom Reing.
Reading Series: Aging in Our Time
Our 2019-2020 Reading Series shines a light on stories of growing old and the elderly. Three different contemporary plays from the UK and Ireland each look at the issue through a different lens.
The Children by Lucy Kirkwood
Monday, November 11, at 7pm
Three retired scientists grapple with their responsibilities towards the younger generation when a natural disaster causes an emergency at a nuclear power plant. A gripping play from both Broadway and the West End that asks what one generation owes to the next.
Halcyon Days by Deirdre Kinahan
Monday, January 13, at 7pm
In a nursing home in rural Ireland, Nora and Sean are both sick and not getting any younger. Together they face their past lives, their current regrets, and their hopes for the future. A poignant look at where age and illness meet in the
institutions that house our elderly.
People by Alan Bennett
Monday, March 2, at 7pm
Dame Stacpoole has to decide what to do with her dilapidated country house: turn it into a museum, sell it to the highest bidder, or make it a filming location…for porn. A witty look at how we value old belongings, but not old people from one of Britain’s greatest living playwrights.