The programme for the 43rd Dublin Theatre Festival was presented yesterday evening at the HQ Hall of Fame in Dublin's Abbey Street by the event's director, Mr Tony O Dalaigh. It will run from October 4th to 17th and bring major international productions as well as new Irish writing to the city's theatres.
This is the last festival to be programmed by Mr O Dalaigh, as he announced last week that he is retiring. His successor will be Mr Fergus Linehan, son of the writer Fergus Linehan and the actress Rosaleen Linehan, who is deputy director of the festival.
During the 10 years that Mr O Dalaigh has been director, he has cut down on the number of productions to concentrate on quality. A think-tank set up in 1995 suggested this approach, he said yesterday, so that they could programme "the kind of international show which makes an impact".
The festival has been able to programme bigger shows since the setting up of the Dublin Theatre Festival Fringe in 1995. This very successful event now hosts a wide range of smaller-scale, experimental work.
The festival this year also boasts a "name" sponsor after being without one for three years. Telecom, which has been involved as a sponsor for three years, will this year make the event the Eircom Dublin Theatre Festival. The commitment is initially for two years.
Speaking at the presentation yesterday, Telecom's chief executive, Mr Alfie Kane, said that he hoped to work with the festival to make it accessible to a greater number of people.
Another success for the festival is the appointment of Ms Moya Doherty, of the Riverdance and Tyrone Productions fame, as chairwoman, replacing Ms Eithne Healy, who has retired.