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Irish group Solas Nua is back in the business of staging plays Irish group Solas Nua is back in the business of staging plays
(about 1 hour later)
After a five-year hiatus, the Washington-based Solas Nua will begin producing plays again this spring.After a five-year hiatus, the Washington-based Solas Nua will begin producing plays again this spring.
Supporters of the Irish cultural organization celebrated the news at a Jameson-fueled party Saturday night on Capitol Hill. As more than 100 guests wandered up a narrow brick alley to the historic home of hosts Carl and Udine Nash, they might well have imagined they were out for a night in Dublin’s famed Temple Bar neighborhood. But Solas Nua supporters aren’t the sort of tourists who travel to Ireland for pub crawls and Bono sightings. These folks are quite serious about Irish culture.Supporters of the Irish cultural organization celebrated the news at a Jameson-fueled party Saturday night on Capitol Hill. As more than 100 guests wandered up a narrow brick alley to the historic home of hosts Carl and Udine Nash, they might well have imagined they were out for a night in Dublin’s famed Temple Bar neighborhood. But Solas Nua supporters aren’t the sort of tourists who travel to Ireland for pub crawls and Bono sightings. These folks are quite serious about Irish culture.
Solas Nua, which means “new light” in Gaelic, was founded in 2005 when Linda Murray and Dan Brick staged one of the first American productions of the Enda Walsh play “Disco Pigs.” As Walsh’s fame grew, Solas Nua continued to embrace up-and-coming Irish playwrights and unusual venues, including the former Udine Arena, where the troupe staged “Swampoodle” in 2010. Solas Nua, which means “new light” in Gaelic, was founded in 2005 when Linda Murray and Dan Brick staged one of the first American productions of the Enda Walsh play “Disco Pigs.” As Walsh’s fame grew, Solas Nua continued to embrace up-and-coming Irish playwrights and unusual venues, including the former Uline Arena, where the troupe staged “Swampoodle” in 2011.
But in 2011, Murray abruptly returned to Ireland for personal reasons, and the Solas Nua board was left reeling. It decided to downsize and focus on promoting Irish culture through less expensive ways, including an annual film festival, a monthly book club and other literary events. But later that year, Murray abruptly returned to Ireland for personal reasons, and the Solas Nua board was left reeling. It decided to downsize and focus on promoting Irish culture through less expensive ways, including an annual film festival, a monthly book club and other literary events.
“We wanted to do what we could do well,” said board chairman Paddy Meskell. Then last summer, Rex Daugherty was brought on as Solas Nua’s new artistic director. As an actor, Daugherty has worked in theaters across Washington, and starred in a 2009 revival of “Disco Pigs.” Daugherty, Meskell said, “had Solas Nua in his DNA.”“We wanted to do what we could do well,” said board chairman Paddy Meskell. Then last summer, Rex Daugherty was brought on as Solas Nua’s new artistic director. As an actor, Daugherty has worked in theaters across Washington, and starred in a 2009 revival of “Disco Pigs.” Daugherty, Meskell said, “had Solas Nua in his DNA.”
Over the past six months, Daugherty has been organizing play readings and preparing for Solas Nua’s first fully staged production in nearly six years. On Monday night, the 2016 play-reading series kicks off at Kelly’s Irish Times bar on F Street NW, featuring Robert Massey’s “Chancers.” Then next month, Daugherty will begin rehearsals for “Wild Sky,” a new play by Deirdre Kinahan.Over the past six months, Daugherty has been organizing play readings and preparing for Solas Nua’s first fully staged production in nearly six years. On Monday night, the 2016 play-reading series kicks off at Kelly’s Irish Times bar on F Street NW, featuring Robert Massey’s “Chancers.” Then next month, Daugherty will begin rehearsals for “Wild Sky,” a new play by Deirdre Kinahan.
If that playwright’s name sounds familiar, it’s because Studio Theatre will stage another Kinahan drama, “Moment,” in March. The now-big-in-the-States playwright is planning a trip to Washington to support both Studio and Solas Nua.If that playwright’s name sounds familiar, it’s because Studio Theatre will stage another Kinahan drama, “Moment,” in March. The now-big-in-the-States playwright is planning a trip to Washington to support both Studio and Solas Nua.
“Deirdre is having a very big year,” said Daugherty, who met Kinahan in August, when Solas Nua sent him to Dublin. He attended a performance of “Wild Sky” and got the idea of presenting the play in homes rather than in a theater. (Theater patrons won’t know the location until they buy tickets. Two Solas Nua board members have signed on to host showings, but they’re still looking for more volunteers.) The drama is set in 1916 and features just two characters — a young man who is fighting in the Easter Rising and a rebel lass who doesn’t return his love. For added ambiance, Daugherty is incorporating Irish soda bread, live Celtic music and a dance lesson.“Deirdre is having a very big year,” said Daugherty, who met Kinahan in August, when Solas Nua sent him to Dublin. He attended a performance of “Wild Sky” and got the idea of presenting the play in homes rather than in a theater. (Theater patrons won’t know the location until they buy tickets. Two Solas Nua board members have signed on to host showings, but they’re still looking for more volunteers.) The drama is set in 1916 and features just two characters — a young man who is fighting in the Easter Rising and a rebel lass who doesn’t return his love. For added ambiance, Daugherty is incorporating Irish soda bread, live Celtic music and a dance lesson.
This year is the 100th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and other events that led to Ireland’s independence. It’s being marked throughout the English-speaking world with everything from readings of Yeats’s poetry to an Irish festival at the Kennedy Center to blockbuster films. (“The Rising” stars Micheál Neeson as Michael Collins, a role his father, Liam, played 20 years ago.) This year is the 100th anniversary of the Rising and other events that led to Ireland’s independence. It’s being marked throughout the English-speaking world with everything from readings of Yeats’s poetry to an Irish festival at the Kennedy Center to blockbuster films. (“The Rising” stars Micheál Neeson as Michael Collins, a role his father, Liam, played 20 years ago.)
The Irish Embassy is helping to fund Solas Nua, boosting its budget by nearly a fifth, but the organization’s budget is still not much more than $100,000. Meskell, however, is optimistic that with Daugherty on board, support will keep growing for the Irish arts in Washington, which is why Solas Nua has christened its 2016 season “Rising.”The Irish Embassy is helping to fund Solas Nua, boosting its budget by nearly a fifth, but the organization’s budget is still not much more than $100,000. Meskell, however, is optimistic that with Daugherty on board, support will keep growing for the Irish arts in Washington, which is why Solas Nua has christened its 2016 season “Rising.”
“We’re not only celebrating the anniversary of the Rising,” he said, “we are celebrating the rising of Solas Nua as a theater company.”“We’re not only celebrating the anniversary of the Rising,” he said, “we are celebrating the rising of Solas Nua as a theater company.”
For Rajiv Joseph, seeing his play “Guards at the Taj” at Woolly Mammoth Theatre brings to life a gruesome story that captivated him as an adolescent boy. He was 10 when his Indian father first took the family to India. He met many relatives, but what he remembers most is a side trip to Agra and seeing the Taj Mahal.For Rajiv Joseph, seeing his play “Guards at the Taj” at Woolly Mammoth Theatre brings to life a gruesome story that captivated him as an adolescent boy. He was 10 when his Indian father first took the family to India. He met many relatives, but what he remembers most is a side trip to Agra and seeing the Taj Mahal.
“I remember hearing the stories, the legends, the myths, the facts of that building,” Joseph said last week, relaxing in Woolly’s lobby before a performance. He returned when he was 22 and again last year, when he brought along two actors who would star in the premiere of “Guards” at New York’s Atlantic Theater Company. The script grew out of an unproduced play about Shah Jahan, the brutal 17th-century Mughal emperor. The guards charged with maiming 20,000 workers who built the Taj were just minor characters in the play. “I remember hearing the stories, the legends, the myths, the facts of that building,” Joseph said last week, relaxing in Woolly’s lobby before a performance. He returned when he was 22 and again last year, when he brought along two actors who would star in the premiere of “Guards” at New York’s Atlantic Theater Company. The script grew out of an unproduced play about Shah Jahan, the brutal 17th-century Mughal emperor. The guards charged with maiming 20,000 workers who built the Taj were just minor characters in the play .
Joseph ending up throwing out the script about 10 years ago, but his fascination with the legend lingered. “I don’t know why, but that story just stuck with me,” he said.Joseph ending up throwing out the script about 10 years ago, but his fascination with the legend lingered. “I don’t know why, but that story just stuck with me,” he said.
Physical harm often functions as a plot device in Joseph’s plays. His “Gruesome Playground Injuries” was a success at Woolly in 2010, and a year later, his “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo” opened on Broadway, starring Robin Williams. The characters also include two American soldiers assigned to guard captive animals. One soldier loses a hand to the massive feline, and both end up with PTSD.Physical harm often functions as a plot device in Joseph’s plays. His “Gruesome Playground Injuries” was a success at Woolly in 2010, and a year later, his “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo” opened on Broadway, starring Robin Williams. The characters also include two American soldiers assigned to guard captive animals. One soldier loses a hand to the massive feline, and both end up with PTSD.
“He was perfect for the role,” Joseph said of the late actor, adding that Williams was drawn to the script because he empathized with the soldiers’ mental suffering. “He said yes because he loved the play, and he had a deep commitment to veterans,” Joseph said. “When he got back [from USO tours], he talked so much about visiting veterans and his concern for their well-being, primarily with regard to PTSD.”“He was perfect for the role,” Joseph said of the late actor, adding that Williams was drawn to the script because he empathized with the soldiers’ mental suffering. “He said yes because he loved the play, and he had a deep commitment to veterans,” Joseph said. “When he got back [from USO tours], he talked so much about visiting veterans and his concern for their well-being, primarily with regard to PTSD.”
The playwright — a former Peace Corps volunteer — insists that he is not writing from experience when he harms his own characters.The playwright — a former Peace Corps volunteer — insists that he is not writing from experience when he harms his own characters.
“Knock on wood, I have come through life unscathed emotionally and physically,” he said. “I’m very interested in how people deal with trauma. I live in fear of it, and I find it very dramatic.”“Knock on wood, I have come through life unscathed emotionally and physically,” he said. “I’m very interested in how people deal with trauma. I live in fear of it, and I find it very dramatic.”
Ritzel is a freelance writer.Ritzel is a freelance writer.
An earlier version of this column misstated when Solas Nua staged “Swampoodle” at Uline Arena and misspelled the arena’s name. The production was in 2011, not 2010. This version has been updated.