by Saoirse Anton

Instead of writing this column at my usual desk, I am sat in the Kiln Theatre in London. An apt place, in a way, to be writing about Irish theatre – Kilburn High Road. Sometimes referred to as Ireland’s 33rd County, Kilburn was the landing place for many an Irish emigrant to London and retains the highest Irish population of any area in the city. However, London is not the only place that plays host to Irish emigrants, will the Irish diaspora across the globe reaching well into the millions, we’ve spread ourselves far beyond the shores of the Emerald Isle. And as we have travelled, we have brought Irish arts and culture with us, with Irish cultural centres popping up in cities across the world, Irish songs being sun along to in pubs, clubs, weddings and wakes from Tullamore to Tokyo, and the giants of Irish theatre treading the boards of the world’s stage.

This month, we are casting an eye towards the best of Ireland’s theatre abroad, beginning with the obvious, enormous international theatre events looming on the horizon, The Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Coming to both the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh as part of the International Festival, and later to the Apollo Theatre in London, Gabriel Byrne’s Walking With Ghosts takes to the road after sell-out runs back home. Looking to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, there are pages of Irish productions to delve into throughout the programme, from stand-up comedy to contemporary dance. Druid Theatre Company bring The Last Return to the Traverse Theatre. Written by Sonya Kelly, who has previously seen national and international success with works such as How To Keep an Alien, The Wheelchair on My Face and Once Upon a Bridge, The Last Return promises to be an insightful comic treat. Also in a comedic vein, Brokentalkers and Adrienne Truscott’s incisive parody of “the great male artist,” Masterclass, is sure to set the stage of JackDome alight. For families, Dan Colley and Riverbank Arts Centre’s Gabriel Garcia Marquez adaptation, A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings will delight audiences at Summerhall, and dance lovers will enjoy delving into United Fall/Emma Martin’s series of dance poems, Night Dances, at ZOO Southside’s Main House.

Looking to other festivals and festive events, Branar Theatre’s joyful work Rothar will be hitting the road for a run at the Polka Theatre in London on the 27th and 28th August as part of Big Dreams Festival. Le Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary on the 16th September with an exciting programme of events, including Aideen Barry’s ambitious multidisciplinary work, Oblivion Seachmalltacht - ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ, music from Daithí and a light show designed by Conan Wynne of SUBSET. And on the 20th August, just down the road from where I am writing this, the London Irish Centre will be partnering with Camden Council to present This Is Kilburn, a community festival honouring Irish migration to the area in the 20th Century.

Crossing the pond, the Irish Arts Centre in New York will play host to Muldoon’s Picnic, a “artist-curated omnium gatherum” curated by acclaimed Irish Poet, Paul Muldoon. Later in the year, continuing its domestic and international success, Chekhov’s First Play, from Dead Centre, will also be taking to the stage of the Irish Arts Centre, and is one to catch.

Laying the foundations for future Irish international successes, Fishamble Theatre Company and the Irish Repertory Theatre’s 2022 Transatlantic Commissions Programme sees four Black Irish artists and writers of colour to work with a mentor over this year to create new works that will be workshopped and presented in public readings by Fishamble in Dublin, Ireland and Irish Rep in New York City in early 2023.

With works from Irish writers like Friel, Gregory, Synge and O’Casey getting regular outings in theatres all over the world, brilliant Irish work taking to international stages, and strong network of Irish communities sharing art and culture wherever you go, no matter what corner of the globe you find yourself in, a taste of home is never too far away.