Culture

Murphy, Murfi, Walsh and Rea: partners in play heading for Galway

Cillian Murphy and Enda Walsh to renew their theatrical partnership

Landmark Productions’ Ballyturk, written and directed by Enda Walsh, far left, and starring Mikel Murfi, Cillian Murphy and Stephen Rea, which is at the Black Box Theatre for Galway Arts Festival in July. Photograph: Rich Gilligan
Landmark Productions’ Ballyturk, written and directed by Enda Walsh, far left, and starring Mikel Murfi, Cillian Murphy and Stephen Rea, which is at the Black Box Theatre for Galway Arts Festival in July. Photograph: Rich Gilligan
Thu Mar 06 2014 - 01:00

Galway Arts Festival is hoping to emulate the success of its 2011 co- production Misterman with a new show starring Cillian Murphy and written by Enda Walsh.

Ballyturk will see Murphy return to the stage, alongside Mikel Murfi and Stephen Rea, in a new show from Landmark Productions. It will have its world premiere on the opening night of this year's Galway Arts Festival.

The show reunites the creative team behind Misterman . The company describes Ballyturk as "gut-wrenchingly funny and achingly sad" with "jaw-dropping moments of physical comedy". Walsh says the play has been "two years in its dreaming and making".

This is Walsh's first new play in four years. His last production was the Broadway musical Once , for which he won a Tony award. It is currently on tour in London and the US.

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Misterman was one of the most acclaimed plays of 2011, and won two awards at that year's Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards. Murphy won best actor for his portrayal of Thomas Magill, while Jamie Vartan won for best set.


Ballyturk opens at the Black Box Theatre in Galway on July 10 . Galway Arts Festival opens July 14

Cillian MurphyEnda WalshJamie VartanMikel MurfiStephen Rea